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THE 



LIGHTED VALLEY; 



THE CLOSING SCENES 



IN THE 



)F A BELOVED SISTER. 

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PREFACE BY THE REV. WILLIAM JAY, 

AUTHOR OF "MORNING AND EVENING EXERCISES." 



NEW YORK 



ROBERT CARTER & BROTHERS, 
No. 285 BROADWAY. 



1850. 











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6 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1850, 

BY ROBERT CARTER & BROTHERS, 

In the Clerk's Office of the Southern District of New York. 



THOMAS B. SMITH, STEREOTYPER, 
216 WILLIAM STREET, N. Y. 



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CONTENTS 



PAGE 

Preface by "William Jay, *J 



CHAPTER I. 

Introductory Remarks — Means of Grace employed in 
her Training — The Principles infused — The Character 
formed, 15 

CHAPTER II. 

Decline of Health — Voyage to England — Visit to Bath 
— Visit to Cambridge — Extracts of Letters illustra- 
tive of her Tastes and Pleasures — The Opinions of a 
Brother and a Grandfather, 26 

CHAPTER ni 

Return Home — Duties resumed — Continued Decline, . 75 

CHAPTER IV. 

Benefit sought in Change — Visit to Brooklyn — Return 
Home — Journey South — Stay in Philadelphia — Stay 
in Alexandria — Speedy Return, . . . .90 



IV CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER V. 

PAGE 

Prolonged and Trying Illness — Wonderful Support un- 
der it, 121 

CHAPTER VI 
Her Death, 162 

CHAPTER VIL 
Her Funeral — Concluding Remarks — Letters — Poetry, . 202 



ADVERTISEMENT. 



The following pages were designed as a family 
memorial for those of its members who had not the 
privilege of being present at the scenes they describe — 
in which the fragments of a life of piety and loveli- 
ness might be gathered up, that nothing should be 
lost. 

Kemembering, however, the wide circle of her 
friends, and believing that this little account of one 
whom all who knew her loved, would be acceptable 
to them, it was concluded to present it to them 
through the press ; may we not hope that it may fall 
into the hands of others who will find in it an exam- 
ple worthy of their imitation, that they too may en- 
joy the same hope and peace in their end. 

This object might have been accomplished in a 
more unobtrusive way — one more genial with our 
feelings, and more in accordance with the retired 
habits of the subject of the little memorial : but there 
is a large circle of young persons who knew and loved 
her, for whose best interests she was deeply con- 
cerned; these could only be reached through the 
press ; and for them also this memorial of their friend 

1* 



VI ADVERTISEMENT. 

is designed, that having seen how she lived, they 
may learn how she died. 

They will see in these pages that there is 

" A reality in religion" — 

in a religion derived alone from the Spirit of God by 
means of his blessed Word renewing the heart into 
the image of Christ, and sanctifying the life and 
death of his servants to his glory. 

May the same divine and gracious Spirit teach 
them and all into whose hands this volume may fall, 
that this is the one thing needful, and lead them to 
" choose the good part which shall not be taken away 
from them." 

R. B. 

Pelham Priory, Feb. 1, 1850, 
Westchester Co., N. Y. 



PREFACE. 



Eleven years ago, I was desired to write a short 
preface, to introduce to the public a brief memoir of 
a grandchild, who died between six and seven years 
old, at the Isle of Mauritius, where soon after his 
father, then in the service of government, died also. 

The narrative was entitled " Little Willy." It has 
gone through many editions ; and I have reason to 
believe the Lord has honored it, and made it the 
means of perfecting praise out of the mouths of other 
babes and sucklings. It was drawn up by his wid- 
owed mother — a circumstance which might have pro- 
duced suspicion of partiality : but all who knew the 
lovely boy, could bear witness that even maternal 
fondness did not transgress the words of truth and 
soberness. 

I have had much time and opportunity for obser- 
vation and comparison ; and I am constrained to con- 
fess I never saw clearer and more satisfactory evi- 
dence of an early work of grace, or of a child's being 
sanctified from the womb. 



Vlll PREFACE. 

It may not be less interesting to some readers in 
the United States, that the body of the little saint 
lies buried by the side of the grave of Harriet Newell, 
the wife of the American missionary. 

I am now again similarly called upon on account 
of another grandchild. But here the subject of atten- 
tion was more advanced in age, and was removed in 
the bloom of life. She was born at Henley upon 
Thames, Oxfordshire, England, in the year 1827, and, 
removing with her family to America, in 1836, she 
died at Pelham Priory, near New York, June 16th, 
1849. She was one of thirteen children, the off- 
spring of the Rev. Robert Bolton, Rector of Christ 
church, and Anne Jay, his wife, all of whom have 
hitherto walked undeviatingly in the way of truth, 
and two of whom are Episcopalian clergymen, deter- 
mined to know nothing save Jesus Christ and Him 
crucified. 

As I have so often appeared before the public in 
print, it would have seemed affectation had I refused 
or hesitated to furnish a few lines on such an occa- 
sion ; especially as the application came from so dis- 
tant and so dear a quarter. 

But relationship alone would not have induced my 
compliance, had I not believed that the work was not 
only designed, but adapted to be useful. 

I am aware that we do not always distinguish be- 



PREFACE. IX 

tween what is interesting to ourselves, and what is 
likely to impress others ; and I would observe, first, 
that no individual stands in a space so narrow as not 
to hold some as well as himself — and some who 
know him, and may be influenced by him. Secondly, 
the relative circle here, whose feelings will be alive to 
the representation, is very extensive. Thirdly, there 
is also a much larger number of young ladies, of the 
most respectable families, who have been educated at 
the Priory — all from personal intimacy remembering, 
and admiring, and loving the lamented " Abby." 
To which may be, fourthly, added, that a simple and 
unvarnished instance of unpretending, uniform, intelli- 
gent, attractive piety in early life, is likely to strike 
"favorably ; especially those of the same age and con- 
dition. 

And need I say that this all-important class of 
claimants upon our attention, who are to build up 
our families, to fill our churches, and to serve our 
states, are peculiarly and increasingly exposed, and 
are already heaving forth from many a broken heart, 
" Childhood and youth are vanity." 

In moral or prudential censures we would never 
deal in wholesale : it becomes us to speak of suffer- 
ing parents with tender discrimination. But persons 
often seem to think Providence evil-entreats them, 
when it only maintains a connection between sin and 



X PREFACE. 

suffering, folly and confusion. Solomon long ago ob- 
served this, and said, " A man's foolishness perverteth 
his way, and his heart fretteth against the Lord ;" as 
if the Lord, and not himself, was the cause. Every 
good husband and wife are not a good father and 
mother ! We may say even to Eli, " Do you wonder 
at Hophni and Phineas ! you, who, when your sons 
made themselves vile, restrained them not !" and even 
to David, " Do you wonder at Adonijah ! you, who never 
once in his life displeased him by saying, ' Why hast 
thou done this V " Do men look for results contrary 
to all the analogies of nature and the known methods 
of grace ? They neglect to sow — do they expect to 
reap? They neglect to plant — do they expect to 
gather ? Or would they gather grapes from thorns, 
or figs from thistles ? 

What right or reason have many friends to com- 
plain ? What have they ever done, religiously, dili- 
gently, patiently, judiciously, prayerfully, for those 
God has given them and committed to their care? 

Some say and do not ! but children are much more 
influenced by what they see than by what they hear ! 
Example is above precept ! It is in vain to enforce 
humility and practise pride ! to commend meekness, 
and have no rule over our own spirits ! to love in 
word and in tongue, and to hate in deed and in 
truth ! 



PREFACE. XI 

Inconsistency in parents is far more injurious than 
entire neglect ! Who likes to take meat out of a lep- 
rous hand? "Thou that teachest another, teachest 
thou not thyself? Thou that sayest a man should 
not steal, dost thou steal ? Thou that abhorrest idols, 
dost thou commit sacrilege t" 

Some act only impulsively ; or by fits and starts, 
with often long intervals of indifference and careless- 
ness ! They occasionally break forth in a kind of 
earnestness and haste ; and, the day being gloomy, 
and some cross accident having occurred, and the 
steam being up, in a bad humor they discharge a 
good scolding, and provoke their children to wrath, 
and discourage them ! but what do they constantly 
to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of 
the Lord ? What do they to keep them from the 
paths of the destroyer ? and from bad company ? and 
from improper books ? What do they to possess the 
passes of the country before the enemy seizes and for- 
tifies them ? What do they to preoccupy and store 
the mind with good, that there may be no room for 
the evil ? What do they to make religion appear a 
reasonable service, and " the one thing needful ?" and 
not an affectation of mere opinions and crude conceits, 
and empty disputes and rigid observances ? What 
do they to render godliness inviting, and home de- 
lightful ? and to keep the family in a generally pious 



Xll PREFACE, 

atmosphere? and to lead them towards heaven by 
their feelings as much as by their convictions. 

Some parents are all softness and indulgence ! but 
wisdom, in the management of childhood and youth, 
will learn to deny as well as to comply ! There must 
be discipline as well as liberty I " He that spareth 
the rod hateth his son !" Here tenderness is often 
pleaded ; and one asks, " May I not, and ought I not, 
to love my dear children ?" To whom I reply, " Yes, 
and much more than you do ! You ought to love 
them wisely as well as really ! to love their souls as 
well as their bodies ! to love them for eternity as well 
as for time ! and never to be satisfied till they are 
1 blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly 
places in Christ !' " 

I hope we hear less than formerly of the absurd 
justification or excuse of parental undutifulness. "But 
can we make our children Christians ? Is not this the 
work of God V and " Can the husbandman make a 
grain of wheat ? Is not this the work of God V 
But the husbandman can manure, and plough, and 
sow; without this he knows, notwithstanding God's 
agency, it is in vain to look for a crop ! But, in the 
use of these means he expects, and he is authorized 
to expect, "first the blade, then the ear, and after 
that the full corn in the ear I" and how rarely is he 
ever disappointed ! 



PREFACE. Xlll 

When we look back to our earlier forefathers, (such 
for instance, as the Henrys,) we find religion a kind 
of heir-loom in the family ! and the generations of 
the upright were blessed! and, though grace never 
came by natural descent, and " that which was born 
was born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, 
nor of the will of man, but of God," God heard 
prayer and blessed instruction, endeavor, and exam- 
ple, so that " instead of the fathers were the children, 
whom the Lord made princes in the earth !" 

Early impressions are the most deep and durable ; 
and even when the subjects of them "cast off fear 
and restrain prayer before God," these impressions 
have often, by some providential or gracious excite- 
ment, been revived ; and Manasseh, in his affliction, 
seeks the Lord God of his fathers, and is found of 
him ! and we know who has said, " Train up a child 
in the way he should go, and when he is old he will 
not depart from it." 

Though it may seem less proper for the writer 
himself to speak, I cannot help remarking that the 
father 'and mother of this beloved, and accomplished, 
and pious daughter have shown, though nature is so 
depraved, what may be done, by the blessing of God, 
under a system of proper education — a system which 
at once reaches the health, head, heart and hands — 
which embraces the life that now is and that which is 

2 



XIV PREFACE. 

to come ; which equally combines authority and affec- 
tion ; which does not needlessly multiply prohibitions 
and commands, but always abides by them when 
once issued ; all recommended by personal character 
and conduct, and all accompanied with dependence 
upon God for that blessing which " maketh rich and 
addeth no sorrow with it !" 

Such has been the system always pursued at Pel- 
ham Priory, and the effects have been owned by all 
observers. 

This address was not required to eulogize, or rather 
to characterize the deceased. This is deservedly done 
in the following pages. 

At my advanced age, it is not very probable that 
I shall see or hear much of the success of the publi- 
cation ; but I shall follow it with my prayer, that it 
" may have free course and be glorified !" especially 
in all my children's children, that " the sons may be 
as plants grown up in their youth, and the daughters 
as corner-stones, polished after the similitude of a 
palace !" 

William Jay. 

Percy Place, Bath, October 3, 1849. 




o 



CHAPTER I. 

J$z% ^xlnziyleu antr liractfce. 

" Whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God."— 1 Cor. x. 31. 

" Love what He loves, and let His pleasure please ; 
Die daily ; from the touch of sin recede : 
Then thou hast crowned Him, and He reigns indeed." 

Cowper's Trans. Guion. 

It is sweet to witness even in Nature the 
glorious setting of the sun ; w T hen having faith- 
fully discharged his daily round of duty, hav- 
ing imparted life and light to all, he sinks ma- 
jestically to rest in clouds bathed in his golden 
light : calmly and noiselessly does he pass from 
our view, the gleam of glory that he casts 
around him telling only of his sure rise in 

" Brighter regions yet." 

But it is sweeter far to watch the setting of the 
Christian sun ; to mark the close of a toil- 
some day of duties, often clouded by sins and 



16 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

retarded by temptations ; to behold the linger- 
ing rays of love, peace, and joy, which speak 
the departure blest, and which promise with 
golden hope the rising to everlasting day. 
Such privilege has been ours ; as, tending the 
death-bed of a young and lovely sister, we 
watched the progress of declining strength, 
and witnessed at length the peaceful, yet trium- 
phant release of her glorified spirit. All was 
calm — all was quiet — for a life of prepara- 
tion needs no hurry at its close; years of 
anticipation prevent all alarm, and days of 
actual waiting can hail the summons with de- 
light. 

From her earliest years our sister had loved 
her Saviour. Surrounded by unusual religious 
privileges, her first lispings were in prayer and 
praise. A spirit of ardent devotion soon 
showed itself in the decided piety of child- 
hood, which in youth shone forth with almost 
angelic brightness and loveliness. Fed on the 
pure milk of the Word — taught to read, study, 
and obey it from the heart — it became by 
choice " the man of her counsel" — " the lamp 
unto her feet" — "the light unto her path." 
The uniform habit oi private prayer deepened, 



HER PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE. 17 

with her years, into a realizing sense of its 
value and efficacy ; so that the Mercy-seat 
was ever her favorite resort, her safe retreat, 
her hiding-place. From being taken regu- 
larly to the public services of God's house, 
she soon learned the privilege thus to meet 
God in his sanctuary ; and truly did she there 
sit under his shadow with great delight, and 
his fruit was sweet unto her taste ; for she 
found his word, and did eat it, and it was 
to her the joy and rejoicing of her heart. 
With David she continually exclaimed, 
" One day in thy courts is better than a thou- 
sand ; I would rather be a door-keeper in the 
house of my God, than dwell in the tents of 
wickedness/ 5 

Anxiously watched over and thus prayer- 
fully led by fond earthly parents, she was yet 
more highly favored of her Heavenly Father, 
who, by his blessing upon these simple means 
of grace, bestowed upon her the mercy of all 
mercies, in a knowledge of herself as a sinner 
totally depraved; and Jesus as her Saviour 
all-sufficient and complete. The work of the 
Spirit on her heart, was manifest in its own 
quiet and peculiar influence. It was inward, 

2* 



18 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

deep, purifying, progressive. Reviewing life, 
and examining herself upon her death-bed, she 
was only apprehensive that, unable to mark the 
exact time or decided manner of her change 
of heart, she was perhaps building her hope on 
a false foundation. " I can never remember," 
she said, " the time w T hen I did not love God, 
and desire above all things to be conformed to 
his will." Yet though unconscious to herself 
of the time of this saving change, she could 
readily testify to its effects in a growing con- 
formity, an increasing knowledge, a deeper 
humility, a purer and more ardent love : nor 
were her friends at all in doubt ; for the fruits 
of the Spirit were eminently characteristic of 
her — love, peace, and joy in believing : her 
love was universal, for it sought the soul of her 
fellow-man ; her peace flowed in as a river, for 
by faith she was justified ; her joy was bright 
and abiding, for not even death, as she had 
been distinctly told, could separate her from 
her everlasting portion. 

Thus, through the blessing of God, was a 
spirit infused into the character of our sister, 
that like the life blood with its vital power, per- 
vaded her entire system. Truly can it be said 



HER PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE. 19 

of her that " there was not an action of her 
life that was not governed by it, nor a quality 
of her mind which did not partake of its spirit. 
It was diffused through all her conduct, and 
shed its benign influence not only on the 
things she did, but on her temper in perform- 
ing them/' Her affections had their worthy 
objects, her time its important duties, her 
thoughts their well-regulated employments. 
There was but little display, because the prin- 
ciple was interior, hidden, — " Thou God seest 
me." She was indeed in the world for a few 
short years, but never of it ; it had no charms 
which could attract her, no influences which 
could bind her. 

" Her soul disdained on earth to dwell, 
It only sojourned here." 

Yet it must not for a moment be supposed 
that there was aught like gloom or apathy. 
No — her marked consistency presented "Chris- 
tianity in her fairest attitude, in all her lovely 
proportion of figure, and correct symmetry of 
feature," disarming prejudice of its ridicule, 
and infidelity of its sneer. There were some, 
indeed, who censured and remonstrated against 



20 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

a standard so far above the attainment of the 
careless ; but while the world disliked, it could 
not despise; so that religion, as seen in its prac- 
tical effects on our sister, was universally ad- 
mired — its meekness, its trust, its self-denial ,its 
humility ; yet withal, its constant cheerfulness, 
its unvarying courteousness, its winning love, 
its bright hope, its unclouded joy, convinced 
all ; it persuaded some, and it guided not a 
few into its "ways as ways of pleasantness, 
and its paths as paths of peace." 

At fourteen years of age she had given her- 
self publicly to the Lord, uniting with her 
father's church, the church of God militant; 
and through the remaining seven years of her 
life, while maintaining an uncompromising 
warfare against the world, the flesh, and the 
devil, she was careful also to adorn her profes- 
sion by a consistent example, upheld by the 
graces of the Spirit — a faith fixed upon an in- 
heritance prepared — a hope bright that claimed 
it as her own — a love devoted that sought 
diligently to walk worthy of it unto all well- 
pleasing. 

If there was one property of her mind more 
observable than another from this time for- 



HER PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE. 21 

ward, it was serenity ; a peace which literally 
nothing could disturb, surrounded her like an 
atmosphere — a peace, that was the effect of 
strong and constant trust in God ; as was also 
an indomitable but quiet firmness she ever 
evinced. It is scarcely credible how beauti- 
fully the active and passive graces were bal- 
anced and exemplified by our sister in her 
daily conduct. No trial of life, no swelling of 
the stormy Atlantic, could move that hope 
which she had cast as an anchor, reaching with- 
in the veil. It wrought in her a singular detach- 
ment from the world, both in look and manner — 
an apparent forgetfulness of everything but 
her God, that did very much strike all who 
saw and knew her ; for it is, alas ! but rarely 
that we see the temples of the Holy Spirit 
shining as they ought to do — reflecting the 
glory and beauty of their blessed inhabitant . 

What God has made and himself condescend- 
ed to notice as " fair" and " beautiful/' " obtain- 
ing favor in the sight of all them that looked 
upon it," we surely may pause to admire ; 
particularly when its loveliness but redounds to 
its Maker's praise. By her personal charms — 
the blooming cheek, the constant smile, the 



22 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

innocent and lustrous eye, our sister was un- 
avoidably the object of much admiration. On 
the one hand raised by her Christian principles 
above the vanity of assisting this admiration 
by dress or decoration, on the other free from 
the affectation of disguise or concealment, she 
pretended not to be unconscious, but she cared 
not for man's observations, — lowly in her own 
eyes for she walked humbly with her God. 
Sweetly therefore did her example shine as one 
who devoted her " fair countenance" a free 
will offering to the praise and glory of her God ; 
in not choosing religion, as some have frequently 
insinuated, " because there was but little chance 
of attracting the notice of the world," but as one 
who well knew that she could have shared its 
admiration in no common degree, had she 
desired and sought it. 

But our sister had far brighter charms than 
those of person : her mind and manners were 
naturally elegant — gentleness blended with 
sweet vivacity, and refinement enhanced sim- 
plicity of character. Thoroughly and liberally 
educated, but only at home, by no means de- 
spising the accomplishments of life, all was yet 
regulated by a steady aim at permanent useful- 



HER PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE. 23 

ness. This caused her to renounce the lighter 
pursuits of literature ; this influenced her in all 
she studied, in all she wrote ; it peculiarly char- 
acterized her singing, it urged and directed her 
in the study of languages, and withal, it failed 
not to support her in the calling of the Christian 
lady, charity — whether as required in relieving, 
instructing or working for the poor ; in short, 
this decided and persevering purpose to do 
good was the controlling principle of her life — 
it was the spring and support of all her exer- 
tions. 

She loved music — her manner of singing 
was quite her own ; we pretend not to judge 
her by the world's standard. Her voice was 
perfectly clear, strong and musical ; but it was 
peculiar; as in a fashionable day and amid 
worldly society she yet dared to dedicate it to 
the service of her God. She would sing other 
songs, but not as she sang sacred songs. Let 
the breathless silence and unceasing interest 
with which she was listened to attest this. 
Safe in her sentiments, she could slowly and 
distinctly enunciate her words ; sending them 
home to the hearts of her hearers with the 
force of truth, impressed by deep pathos. Yet 



24 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

she did not enjoy singing alone as much as in a 
choir, where she could stand behind, with her 
arms folded, and her face raised to Heaven, as 
if she longed to be there. 

She was very fond of painting. Here her 
talent was conspicuous. A calm but earnest 
admirer of Nature, it was her only standard. 
She fully appreciated the depth of its coloring, 
and the strength of its light and shade. Who 
that knew her cannot recall the delight with 
which she would arrange for her pencil a study 
of fruit, or flowers, or a group of shells ! 

Uninfluenced by a love of display, these 
accomplishments, instead of leading her from 
home for admiration, fitted her rather to endure, 
to enjoy, and to adorn its retirement. With 
the study of botany, she courted its fields, its 
woods, and its gardens, as the most suitable 
sphere for her simple natural tastes. 

" I well remember/' says her absent brother, 
" the liveliness and enthusiasm with which she 
noticed the common grasses and wild leaves of 
a hedge-row, and the flowers of the fields of 
her native land — England. The primrose and 
the wild hyacinth — I think I see them in her 
hand! With what pleasure, too, her eye 



HER PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE. 25 

roamed over the distant landscape! To her 
the road- side, or the distant hills and woods, 
were equally wonderful, and filled her heart 
with the praises of God. She delighted too 
in observing the heavens — ' the work of God's 
hands — the moon and stars which He had 
made/ and thoroughly enjoyed those lovely 
sunsets which constitute so striking a charac- 
teristic of the American climate. How often 
do I call to mind a sunset at sea, after a 
stormy day, when we found it difficult to stand 
on deck ; yet how she lingered to see the last 
ray, both in the sky and on the sea. Her re- 
marks at such times were full of instruction, 
and such as became the child of God." 

To the fond eye of affection, as she thus 
came forth from the school room upon the 
stage of life, she seemed just fitted for the 
world ; when an eye that seeth not as man 
seeth, saw that she was meet rather for Heav- 
en — meet for the inheritance of the saints in 
light. 



CHAPTER II. 

Jj^tzx Visit to JSnjjlantr 



"When the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the 
sickle."— Mark iv. 29. 

" Time had not laid his hand 
On tress or feature, stamping the dread lines 
Of chill decay, till death had naught to do 
Save that slight office which the passing gale 
Doth to the wasted taper. No, her cheek 
Shamed the young rose-bud ; in her eye was light 
By gladness kindled ; in her footsteps grace ; 
Song on her lips ; affections in her breast, 
Like soft doves, nestling. Yet from all she turned, 
All she forsook, unclasping her warm hand 
From friendship's ardent pressure, with such smile 
As if she were the gainer." 

Mrs. Sigourney. 



It has been said, " All who possess but the 
elements of religion, submit to the Divine 
will :" but is it not often with tardy reluctance; 
sometimes, indeed, with impatient and fretful 
struggling? It needed not a Drocess of rea- 
soning to convince our dear sister, that in her 
affliction a Father's gentle hand was upon her 
for good. The eye of her faith instantly saw 
it ; and a heart at peace w r ith God, with the 



HER VISIT TO ENGLAND. 27 

world, and with itself, joyfully responded, 
"Even so, Father; for so it pleaseth thee." 
When first our anxiety was awakened about 
her health, there was nothing perceptible to the 
stranger's eye, nor were her symptoms alarm- 
ing to friends at home. Medical advice was 
however promptly taken and followed, so that 
through the winter of 1847-8, she was but 
slightly indisposed. 

When an opportunity offered of a sea voyage 
in the spring, it was deemed best that she 
should accompany her parents and an elder 
sister to England. They sailed on the 6th of 
April. Propitious gales wafted her quickly to 
her native land : but the voyage proved too se- 
vere a test ; she suffered much during it, and 
from that time wasted rapidly and alarmingly 
away. Yet as her cheek retained its color and 
her spirits were buoyant as ever, as she roamed 
apparently unwearied over hill and dale and 
then delighted the evening circle with her 
song, those anxious ones who accompanied her 
would fain flatter themselves all might yet be 
well. For not only w r as the hand unseen that 
was laid upon her, but the disease itself, evi- 
dent in its wasting effects, was hidden in its 



28 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

cause, and baffled the medical skill of both 
countries. She seemed only to. waste away — 

" The flower faded !" 

This visit, however, though unavailing to re- 
store physical health, contributed much to her 
enjoyment, and to mature, by its rich religious 
advantages, the character fast ripening for 
glory. It was doubtless kindly permitted by 
an overruling Providence, to renew her inter- 
est in the affections and prayers of many god- 
ly people ; it was mercifully allowed, too, that 
a brother most devotedly loved, from whom 
she had been separated for five years, should 
thus see her face again, before God took her to 
himself. This gratified her through her re- 
maining days, and tempered to him the blow of 
her death while he w T as yet absent. Nor was 
it less graciously appointed that so many sw^eet 
associations should cluster around this visit, as 
to yield the sweetest alleviations in the bitter 
cup of trial, survivors have been called to 
drink. 

Before sailing from New York, a stranger, 
who had been interested in hearing her sing, 
and who desired to fan the flame of sacred 



HER VISIT TO ENGLAND. 29 

love that ascended from her lips, presented her 
with a ballad, " He doeth all things well." It 
was quite new to her friends in England ; and 
first heard as sung by our sister with sweet 
expression, prompted by deep feeling and con- 
viction, which threw a peculiar pathos around 
the words, it never failed to draw forth univer- 
sal admiration; to which however she alone 
seemed quite insensible. Wherever she went 
afterwards, her voice as tuned to this prophetic 
sentiment awakened the same peculiar interest ; 
so that she scattered truth by each glad effort, 
that has yet continued to echo and re-echo 
to the comfort of survivors, and to the glory of 
God : a watch-word was thus given that has 
again and yet again nerved the Christian to 
his duty. Even after her return to this coun- 
try it was sung by our sister till her voice 
failed her from weakness — then whispered in 
death as faith was changed to sight.* 



* As the words of this sacred ballad may not be known to 
all our readers, we are tempted to transcribe them. 

■ HE DOETH ALL THINGS WELL." 

I remember how I lov'd her, when a little guileless child, 
I saw her in the cradle as she look'd on me and smil'd — 



30 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

A few extracts from her letters written 
home during her absence in England will best 

My cup of happiness was full, my joy words cannot tell ; 
And I bless'd the glorious Giver, " who doeth all things well." 

Months pass'd, that bud of promise was unfolding ev'ry hour, 
I thought that earth had never smil'd upon a fairer flow'r ; 
So beautiful it well might grace the bow'rs where angels 

dwell, 
And waft its fragrance to His throne " who doeth all things 

well." 

Years fled — that little sister then was dear as life to me, 
And woke, in my unconscious heart, a wild idolatry ; 
I worshipped at an earthly shrine, lured by some magic spell. 
Forgetful of the praise of Him " who doeth all things well." 

She was the lovely star, whose light around my pathway 

shone, 
Amid this darksome vale of tears through which I journey on. 
Its radiance had obscured the light, which round His throne 

doth dwell, 
And I wandered far away from Him " who doeth all things 

well." 

That star went down in beauty, yet it shineth sweetly now, 
In the bright and dazzling coronet that decks the Saviour's 

brow, 
She bowed to the Destroyer, whose shafts none may repel, 
But we know, for God hath told us, " He doeth all things 

well." 

1 remember well my sorrow as I stood beside her bed, 
And my deep and heartfelt anguish, when they told me she 

was dead ; 
And oh ! that cup of bitterness — let not my heart rebel, 
God gave — He took — He will restore—" He doeth all things 

well" 



HER VISIT TO ENGLAND. 31 

illustrate the practical nature and habitual 
character of our sister's piety; proving beyond 
a doubt the entire consecration of her every 
act to the glory of God! 

With deep and heartfelt gratitude, she first 
and promptly records the mercy that guarded 
them across the trackless deep. 

"Bath, April 26th, 1848. 

" How shall I tell you, my sisters, of the 
goodness and mercy of our God ! For he has 
sent his angel before us to guide us in all the 
way ; and has at last given us rest. 

" In twenty days from the time we bade you 
all good-bye, we were snugly located in Percy 
Place. * Once in that sweet Bethel the troubles 
by the way are all quickly forgotten, — or if 
reviewed, only serve to enhance our present 
pleasure. As to the voyage, I cannot bear 
to dwell upon it. It was a dark day indeed ! 
We did little but eat,, drink, and sleep ! Would 
we attempt to read? — Before a sentence was 
completed, the book was on the floor, and our 
ideas scattered quite as far." 

As a true lover of Nature she dwells with 

* The residence of our honored grandfather. 



32 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

rapture, yet with marked simplicity, upon the 
scenery of their road as it lay between Liver- 
pool and Birmingham — the limit of their first 
day's journey towards Bath. 

"How exquisite the beauty of this country! 
The richness of the meadows clothed with 
emerald green, made my heart to die within 
me ! It was almost too' much to see, realize, 
and enjoy at once. We could not speak, — but 
looked out in silent admiration. Those dear 
little villages clustering around the old churches, 
seemed buried in ivy and fruit blossoms ; — 
each cottage priding itself upon its neat garden 
of cabbage and lettuce, with borders of wall- 
flowers, pansies, and marigolds. Then upon 
the winding canal, might be seen the heavily 
laden barge drawn slowly" by the team; or 
sheltering under its banks the graceful swan 
and her cygnets. The lanes too! how shall 
I picture to you those lanes — embowered with 
vines, carpeted with primroses and cowslips, 
with dandelions and daisies. 

"But if the beauty of nature so astonished 
me, how amazed was I at the perfection of 
art! The finish which delights the eye in 
every direction. The fine rail-roads and their 



HER VISIT TO ENGLAND. 33 

stations, already overgrown with ivy surround- 
ed with gardens and shrubs, extending some 
distance along the road, The banks, though 
twenty feet high, green as grass can make 
them, abounding in primroses and yellow 
broom, and crowned with a fine hawthorn 
hedge/' 

In another part of the same letter, she alludes 
to the second day's journey, which brought 
them safely from Birmingham to Bath. 

" We started early in the train. For some 
time we were alone in a car, and went on as 
on the wings of the wind ; yet at the same time 
getting a fine view of the country. A shower 
had just fallen, and now the sun was shining 
sweetly — of course we were in raptures ; but 
Mamma gazed from the windows in tearful 
silence, for every mile brought us nearer to 
the sacred spot. Stafford Castle, now only 
used as a jail, looked most majestic among the 
distant hills, and seemed to frown upon the 
intruding rail-road. So we came to Bristol — 
passing through Tewkesbury on the road. 

" You have no idea how strangely it sounds 
to hear these old and interesting names associ- 
ated with rail-way stations. At Bristol we 



34 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

stole a moment for a glimpse of St. Mary's 
RadclifFe, and then off again. In twenty min- 
utes we were in Bath. We dared not look 
around lest we should happen to see dear J. ; 
but no, like a good and noble fellow he is 
waiting in Cambridge for us to meet him there. 
But now I must stop ; for we are summoned 
to a horticultural show. Oh ! how much rather 
would I stay in this dear study and talk a 
while more to my precious ones. I wanted so 
much to tell you how all struck us, and how 
exceedingly kind they are ; but we are to drop 
these letters into the office on our way." 

In the next she speaks with interest of at- 
tending the week evening service in Argyle 
chapel, the day after their arrival. 

" From the horticultural show we went up 
Bathwick Hill to tea with Uncle, and walked 
down at seven to hear dear Grandpapa. He 
preached a most glorious sermon upon 'the 
manifestation of the sons of God.' I doubt if 
you can possibly imagine our feelings, when 
the venerable silvery head appeared in the pul- 
pit, and then bent in silent prayer. The ex- 
pression with which he reads is wonderful — 
his words distilas the dew — so softly and yet so 



HER VISIT TO ENGLAND. 35 

effectually do they fall. His manner of empha- 
sizing some passages, merely, gives you an en- 
tirely new view of them/' 

In the form of a journal, still writing home, 
she adds : 

" April 27th. This morning has been spent in 
calls. In the afternoon we walked with Papa 
and W. J. to Bathampton, over those emerald 
meadows all alive with cows and lambs, across 
the ferry into the lovely little church-yard, the 
unfinished oil sketch of which you have, and 

so we came to dear S 's birth-place. A 

wing has been added to the house : it seemed 
therefore a little changed ; but oh ! it is indeed 
a charming spot. Papa returned to Percy 
Place— we to Bathwick Hill/' 

Exceedingly anxious to meet our brother 
and the kind aunt who had so long and 
generously w^atched over him while for years 
absent from his home, they left Bath on the 
Saturday morning, and soon reached Cam- 
bridge. 

" May 3d. Only imagine how our hearts 
beat, as every mile brought us nearer to the 
dear one ! We were, I confess, dreadfully ex- 
cited, when running under the lofty archways, 



36 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

we in a moment recognized him, eagerly, al- 
most wildly gazing into every car as it passed, 
and then half turning away with such a re- 
proachful look of disappointment ! but the well- 
remembered voices were not to be mistaken, 
and we were quickly in his arms ! ' Who but 
God could have done this, my dearest mother/ 
he exclaimed, 'let his be all the glory/ I see 

not the slightest alteration in dear J ; 

whether wearing his cap and gown, hood or 
hat, he is to me precisely the same brother as 
when, book in hand, he used to scamper off 
into the woods of Pelham. We were soon in 
Paradise, as we call dear Aunt's lovely place. 
All were deeply affected in meeting, but soon 
began to talk rationally of the change which 
twelve years cannot fail to make/' # # 
This was Saturday evening; their first 
morning in Cambridge dawned on a Sabbath — 
their first Sabbath in England. The mercies 
of the past week had not failed to excite a 
grateful frame. The body nerved by the 
spirit, sought for rest, not at home, but in the 
green pastures and beside the still waters of 
Christian privileges, which were so abundantly 
set before her. 



HER VISIT TO ENGLAND. 37 

" S. and I went early into J > 7 s room, 

to unite with him in prayer and praise ; nor 
were you, my precious ones, forgotten there at 
the throne of grace. At eleven we started for 
Trinity, to hear Mr. Cams, with whose preach- 
ing we have been charmed. His subject was 
the distinction existing between justification 
and sanctification. He warned us to beware, 
in these perilous times, of placing the one be- 
fore the other; and yet entreated us not to 
separate what God had so clearly joined to- 
gether. It was an enlargement of his views 
on the same subject, in the preface to Mr. 
Simeon's life. He was much affected in tell- 
ing how Jesus came by blood, not by w^ater 
only — that w T as not enough; for without the 
shedding of blood, there is no remission. The 
chanting was delightful ; and the hymns, "Come 
ye sinners, poor and needy," and "There is a 
fountain filled with blood," were most sweetly 
sung by the school-children. 

" After dinner I went with J to his Sun- 
day School, and to my surprise was appointed 

to Mrs. T J s class, the largest girls in the 

school, she being detained at home by sickness. 
I felt a little nervous, but strength is given as 

4 



38 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 



- 



our day ; and after hearing their Scripture les- 
son, which was beautifully recited, I was ena- 
bled to explain and apply it to them. Some 
of my class, I found, are decidedly pious, and 
it was delightful to see how their countenances 
brightened, as our subject led us to speak of 
that peace which the world can neither give 

nor take away. J then took my place, 

and gave them proofs to find on the subject of 
prayer, which he had previously written out. 
He then gave a short address, the children 
sang sweetly, and we closed with prayer. The 
school is certainly in great perfection, and the 
children are so clean, and respectful, so atten- 
tive, and so well-grounded in Scripture. In the 
evening we heard Mr. Carus at St. Mary's. 
He gave us a glorious missionary sermon upon 
the conduct of Gaius to the strangers who 
came unto him — how he sent them on their 
way rejoicing." # # # # # 

Thus closed this privileged Sabbath day. 
The heavenly satisfaction which our dear sis- 
ter enjoyed, in thus waiting upon God in pri- 
vate and in public, enabled her to testify with 
the Psalmist, " He maketh me to lie down in 



HER VISIT TO ENGLAND. 39 

green pastures" or led her to exclaim with 
the sweet versifier, 

" In holy duties let the day 
In holy pleasures pass away ; 
How sweet a Sabbath thus to spend ! 
In hope of one that ne'er shall end." 

Resuming her letter, she adds : 

"Monday afternoon. We walked to Gran- 
Chester, a heavenly little village. It is here in 
this sweet secluded spot, that the gownsmen 
who die at the several colleges, find their nar- 
row home. We noticed particularly the grave 
of a young American — how sad to die so far 
from home ! Under other circumstances, one 
might consider it a privilege to slumber there. 

" Tuesday. Papa, W. J , J , and my- 
self, visited the national schools. Oh ! it was 
a glorious sight to behold ! and a most thrilling 
thing to hear their infant voices swell our 
Creator's praise ! We agreed it was impossi- 
ble to describe such scenes on paper; but 
never mind — (D. V.) we shall soon meet again, 
and warm up one another's heart with the re- 
view of them. 

" Thursday. Mr. Carus has been to break- 



40 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

fast with us. I am almost ashamed to say we 
were at the table till nearly eleven ; but it was 
in such good company ! It is sad to see a man 
wearing himself out, as good Mr. Simeon did 
before him, while others wonder, admire, and 
justly too, but put not a finger to the burden. 
He has promised to continue his conversation 
in St. Mary's pulpit this evening ; so we are 
looking forward to a feast of fat things. Oh ! 
could you but enjoy with us these religious ad- 
vantages, for which we must give account !" 

So entirely was the bent of our dear sister's 
mind, her inclinations and her affections, 
towards God, that in the midst of all their 
lionizing as strangers, and the marked atten- 
tions which as visitors they received, though 
nature was admired, and art appreciated, yet 
was her taste ever mostly delighted with sacred 
things — with holy pleasures and holy employ- 
ments. 

God had in a great and unexpected manner 
honored her by this visit to England ; yet in it 
she sought not great things for herself. Though 
nearly the youngest in the family order, yet 
she had been chosen and called off from varied 
duties to the enjoyment of travel, and the 



HER VISIT TO ENGLAND. 41 

privileges of society. But amidst all the kind- 
ness and gaiety, all the hospitality and luxury 
with which she was welcomed and surrounded, 
her resolution did not falter — her ambition was 
to remain within the fold of the Shepherd of 
Israel, and share in the portion only of His 
"little flock/' choosing thus the good part 
which she knew neither change of place nor 
time could take away. 

There is something so graceful and simple- 
hearted in her manner of mingling every enjoy- 
ment in nature and society with the sentiment 
most potent in her heart, that we are tempted 
to extract yet more from her letters. After 
describing an hour or two, spent in the Mu- 
seum, and in visiting its new edifice, "the 
Fitzwilliam Museum/' she takes us to Christ 
College gardens there to reverence Mil- 
ton's mulberry tree — a poet whose works 
she justly appreciated and greatly admired. 
From this sweet retired spot to Jesus' Col- 
lege, to see the chapel, which is now repair- 
ing. " Within the last three years, by pulling 
down the plaster, they have discovered a most 
splendidly carved roof; also Gothic archways 
and tombs. One in particular let into the 

4* 



42 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

pavement to the virtuous Bertha — A. D. 1216 — 
a nun of the convent ; for such was the college 
till the time of a Mr. Alcock, who, learning 
that it was inhabited by two nuns only, pur- 
chased it and converted it to its present use. 
The cloisters too have just been laid open, into 
which I found my way, being the thinnest of 
the party, by ascending an awfully narrow and 
gloomy staircase. They all had a hearty laugh 
at the nun of the green veil and parasol, — and 
I assure you I was very glad to find myself 
safely down stairs again. In the court of the 
chapel is a trap-door leading down into a 
subterranean passage three quarters of a mile 
in length, which comes out at last in some old 
convent in Barnwell. 

" We then returned home to lunch ; S. again 
sallied forth with Aunt, but my head ached so 
much that I thought best to rest for fear of not 
being able to go to Mr. Carus's, in the evening, 
which he had kindly invited us to spend in his 
rooms. 

" At half after eight we set out — Mr. Carus 
had kindly invited Mr. H., the select preacher 
for the month at St. Mary's, with his wife and 
daughter, and a few other friends to meet us. 



HER VISIT TO ENGLAND. 43 

Oh ! what a charming evening we spent with 
that devoted christian. His soul seems to 
beam forth in love to fellow-christians — in 
pity to fellow-sinners. He told us many 
interesting things of good Mr. Simeon ; showed 
us his Bible with notes and criticisms, a worked 
stool which he had left to him, and many other 
things. He was much pleased with the little 
song "He doeth all things well" — then sat 
down and played many beautiful chants and 
hymn tunes himself, while we stood round and 
sang. We ended with the evening hymn, 

" Glory to thee my God this night," Ac. 

After which he took the Bible, rang for the 
servants, and we had family prayer. Supper 
w r as then brought in, and so ended that happy^ 
blessed evening. In intercourse with such a 
man one is continually reminded of those lines 
of Cowper's : — 

" "When one who holds communion -with the skies 
Has filled his urn where the pure waters rise, 
And ouce more mingles with us meaner things, 
'Tis e'en as if an angel shook his wings ; 
Immortal fragrance fills the circuit wide, 
And tells us whence his treasure is supplied." 



44 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

No one can doubt in this case — his un- 
wearied energy looks only for the rest that 
remaineth to the people of God. 

" Saturday evening. Just come in from visit- 
ing the Barnwell schools with J. We found 
there our dear friends A. W., Miss S., and 
Mr. C, assembled with the elder girls to prac- 
tise a little singing. How sweetly they sang 
" There is a land of pure delight/' and 
" Songs of praise," sustaining the parts with 
almost as much taste and order as any city 
choir. 

" We returned through Chesterton, lost in 
rapture with the groves of lilac, laburnum, 
and guelder rose which greeted us on every 
side. All we could say was, Oh ! that the 
dear ones were here — then, then we should be 
perfectly happy. 

" Sunday evening. Notwithstanding all our 
bright hopes of hearing McNeil, it was so 
much wished that we should attend service in 
the Baptist church that we consented. We had 
a most excellent sermon, from a stranger, Mr. 
S., upon the words " To be spiritually minded 
is life and peace." He first considered the 
sources of such a blessed state — faith, meekness, 



HER VISIT TO ENGLAND. 45 

love and ready obedience — its fruits, life and 
peace — which are only desirable as found in 
union. A nation may have life, but be torn 
by factions, — a family, but distracted by dis- 
sensions—an individual, but carrying about in 
a guilty breast, the worm which dieth not — 
the fire which is not quenched. 

"In the afternoon we went to St. Mary's, to 
hear the select preacher Mr. H., and were 
very w r ell pleased — though the sermon then 
is intended to be more a model essay for the 
University upon some doctrinal point ; seasoned 
with a liberal supply of Latin and Greek. 

" From thence on our way home w r e turned 
into King's College Chapel. Around the steps 
a great crowd was collected ; and the instant 
the doors were opened there was a dreadful 
rush for places, so that some ladies were 
absolutely almost out of breath by the time 
they reached their seats. We were fortunate 
enough to get three vacant stalls — for the 
greater part of the people had to stand. 
Prayers were read by one of the undergradu- 
ates ; but the responses were all chanted by 
the young choristers in their w T hite surplices. 

" An anthem concluded the service — and oh ! 



46 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

what an anthem ! Conceive if you can how it 
echoed back from that solid stone roof, that 
marble pavement, those mysterious windows ! 
It was almost too much to take in at once — to 
gaze upon one of man's noblest works — to hear 
the pure word of God ascend from hundreds in 
notes which surely angels would not despise, — ■ 
to reflect upon your own insignificance and 
upon the majesty of Him who dwelleth not 
even in such temples ! 

" The evening gave us an opportunity of 
hearing McNeil. We knew the place would 
be crowded, therefore made an early start ; yet 
the Throne* was already full, and the galleries 
filling fast. By dint of pushing and squeezing, 
we succeeded in getting seated. The church 
at length was so densely crowded, that they 
were obliged to lock the doors, and then the 
most perfect stillness and order reigned. Mr. 
Cams read prayers ; after which McNeil came 
down from the Throne, and with his little Bible 
only in hand, entered the pulpit, and offered a 
short extemporary prayer. 

" His text was, ' Oh grave, where is thy vic- 
tory!' He remarked, 'Your church-yards, 

* The seats reserved for the heads of college. 



HER VISIT TO ENGLAND. 47 

your cemeteries, your fields of battle, the bot- 
tom of the mighty deep, return a ready answer 
to the simple question ; but we must regard it 
as prophetic. Had you stood by that tomb in 
which but One Man was laid, you might have 
said, Oh grave ! you have your triumph ! Yes, 
through Friday and Saturday you might ; but, 
on this blessed morn, the glorious Sabbath, 
where — where is now your victory 7 He then 
showed how Christ's resurrection was the 
pledge of our own, without which assurance 
we should be of all men most miserable. He 
concluded with comparing the present state of 
the dead and their condition at the final resur- 
rection, to the breaking of a grand mirror into 
a thousand pieces, which are scattered some 
dark night along the mountain side : they re- 
flect nothing, they lie unnoticed ; but see, when 
in the morning the gilded east lights up that 
valley, how they dazzle in the sun as each re- 
turns the faithful image of that glorious orb. 
Now let these fragments be gathered together 
into one frame, yet each possessing its distinct 
shape, and you have some faint idea of ' the 
manifestation of the sons of God/ ' 

Thus closed another week, their first entire 



48 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

week in England. From her letters its time 
would seem to have been devoted exclusively 
to sacred duties and pleasures ; yet those with 
her, bear testimony to its being a week of con- 
tinued engagements and excitements — friends 
vying with friends in every demonstration of 
kindness and attention. 

But all this transitory pleasure, kind and 
grateful as it was, and duly appreciated by our 
sister, was yet so wanting in comparison with 
the soul's rich privileges upon which she was 
now literally feasting, that it receives compar- 
atively but a passing notice. That she was 
not insensible to it, let her own words prove : 
" The kindness we have received surpasses any- 
thing we could expect, and is infinitely beyond 
what we could deserve/' 

A true lover of flowers, she describes in her 
next letter their efforts to assist in adorning 
the room and arranging the flowers for a hor- 
ticultural show. 

" Tuesday. To-day came off the great hor- 
ticultural show. Dear Aunt was up early 
filling her basket, which looked spendidly. 
Breakfast was sent to her in their midst ; and 
then she set off in company with her flowers, 



HER VISIT TO ENGLAND. 49 

to assist in the general arrangement ; for her 
taste is much admired here. We were em- 
ployed in wreathing the chandeliers. It was 
a pretty idea of ropes wreathed with flowers, 
which she had taken from an engraving of the 
show in the Jardins d'hiver in Paris, and, I be- 
lieve, gave universal satisfaction. At the end 
of the room was a flight of steps, covered 
with heaths ; in the centre of the room under 
the large chandelier, was a step about a foot 
high, on which were placed, in a circle, six or 
eight baskets. Aunt's, which is very tall and 
slender, occupied the centre ; on either side 
were tables laden with calceolarias, pansies, 
and roses. The other end was devoted to the 
vegetables and the cottager's table. Some of 
the baskets of picked flowers were arranged 
most beautifully, and with quite as much taste 
as many of the groups of flowers. Aunt was 
very successful ; obtaining a prize for nearly 
everything shown. 

"Towards evening, Mr. C. of St. John's, 
brought us the key of 'the Wilderness' 
which belongs to that college. Here we had 
a delightful ramble. The sun fast sending 
its last rays through the avenues of limes and 

5 



50 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

beech, produced an exquisitely soft effect. On 
the grass plots were hundreds of men at differ- 
ent games ; some seated quietly at their books 
on the banks of the river ; others but too hap- 
py to serve as guides to some party of stran- 
gers. We then went over the college, which, 
however dark and dingy without, is remarka- 
bly comfortable within. In the dining-hall 
hangs the portrait of their patron saint, Mar- 
garet, the mother of Henry VII. ; also a fine 
one of Stillingfleet and many others of univer- 
sity benefactors. We returned to join a little 
party of good people, kindly invited to meet us. 
It was" a very pleasant evening, spent in 
Christian intercourse. Here was no reserve 
upon religious subjects ; all gladly united, not 
only in singing, but in speaking the praise of 
Him whom the Christian should never lose 
sight of. Mr. Carus has lent us his music- 
book, so you must prepare your hearts and 
voices for some new and choice strains. 

"Wednesday. Went this morning with 

J to the national school, to carry some 

work. Of course we were again delighted — 
who could help it ! to see hundreds of little 
creatures from the worst parish in Cambridge, 



HER VISIT TO ENGLAND. 51 

here snatched as brands from the burning. 
We have already received many hints as well 
as books, which will be found useful in the 
Pelham school. It is promised that we shall 
go some day to the repository, where we may 
select what we please. 

" Thursday night. Heard dear Mr. C , 

from the words, ' Christ sent me not to bap- 
tize, but to preach the Gospel/ He considered 
the nature of the commission, and the manner 
of its discharge. With what rapture did he 
speak of the free, full, artless words of ever- 
lasting life, and entreated the young men to be 
faithful in delivering them unencumbered by 
the trappings of oratory, or the gloss of philos- 
ophy, to souls hungering and thirsting after 
the bread and water of eternal life. My dear 
sisters, I hope we appreciate the opportunities 
we now enjoy of getting good; that when we 
return to labor once more, we may give proof 
of it by our zeal in doing good." 

TO HER SISTER R. 

" Cambridge, June 3d. 

" Many, many thanks, my precious R , 



for your long letter, upon which we have been 
feasting for the last quarter of an hour. It gave 



52 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

us an opportunity of unburdening our feelings ; 
for you know the heart is faithful to itself, and 
will but too often faint and sicken in the vain at- 
tempt to destroy the frightful distance which 
keeps asunder those who are but one in soul. 
We drew sweet comfort from the assurance that 
we are all in the hands of a common Father, who 
has always some wise purpose to answer by ev- 
ery step, however mysterious, which he bids his 
children take ; and we should be wilfully blind 
indeed, in not noticing how he has graciously 
smoothed our way, and given us favor in the 
eyes of all. Those dear steamers ! a thousand 
blessings on them now, and ten thousand when, 
in spite of wind and wave, they shall reunite 
us, no matter on which shore. # 

We are not idle observers, and I hope I may 
say, not prejudiced judges ; so that you shall 
some day be the wiser for our notes by the 
way. 

" I truly envy you your present course of 
study, my dearest sister : you know well how 
I would enjoy it ; it is so pleasant to get hold 
of a new and difficult subject, and feel your 
energies all drawn out into new spheres by 
the struggle. 



HER VISIT TO ENGLAND. 53 

" My education at present is of a very differ- 
ent character — but very far from unnecessary ; 
and the events of each day only show how 
much more there is to be learned, if we would 
pass through its varied duties with ease to 
oneself, and without exciting the prejudices of 
others. I had dreaded a visit to Cambridge 
very much — nor was such a feeling quite 
amiss ; for we are obliged sometimes to mingle 
in some company which we cannot approve. 
Do not imagine for a moment that a greater 
knowledge of the world has created the slightest 
love for its vanities : no — truly, they cannot 
bear the looking into, and only hourly sink 
in my estimation ; but we came to the con- 
clusion on Sunday, that one such blessed 
Sabbath could, under our unavoidable circum- 
stances, counterbalance a whole week of vanity. 

" Thursday. This morning we all visited 
Trinity College Chapel, to hear Mr. L. perform 
on the organ, as he had kindly offered to do 
for us. There we met a few friends. The 
anthems were truly grand; the walls rang 
again : indeed, when he ventured to use the 
sw r ell, which is the most powerful in Cambridge, 
the whole building seemed to tremble. They 

5* 



54 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

are busy restoring the painted windows which 
for many years have given place to common 
glass. In the antechapel is a superb statue 
of Newton, leaning forward, with a prism in 
his hand: it is the most perfect thing I ever 
saw ; you expected every moment to see the 
folds of the gown drawn aside, the hand to be 
raised, and the lips to verify the truth of the 
inscription beneath, 'Behold the man who 
exceeded in wisdom all his race.' Vis-a-vis 
stands the statue of Sir Francis Bacon, which 
seems always to give dissatisfaction : it has 
just been presented by the Master at an 
immense cost. The great objection I believe 
is to the position — las seated eaning back in an 
old-fashioned chair. In the vestry, hung round 
with surplices belonging to the choristers and 
readers, we were shown a wonderful old tomb, 
erected to the first fellow-commoner of that 
college who came up at the age of fourteen, 
and died within two years ; there lay the figure 
in gray marble, in precisely the same dress 
which they wear now. Over it was inscribed, 
"The dead in Christ shall rise first." This 
was in Greek : the rest of the inscription was 
in Latin ; and the date A. D. 1648. 



HER VISIT TO ENGLAND. 55 

" In the evening we heard Mr. Carus. He 
led us into rich pastures indeed, by the prayer 
of Jeremiah, first chapter. His divisions were 
first, the recognition of God's attributes — second, 
the commemoration of his promises — third, the 
confession of sin — fourth, the expression of desire 
— fifth, the success granted. He bid us beware 
of all levity in prayer ; yet to guard as care- 
fully against all slavish fear which casteth out 
love : showed how our Heavenly Father de- 
lights to be reminded of his promise, which 
alone can bear the fainting spirit up, while 
earth-born supports and pleasures crumble 
around; and how wisely the prophet reasoned, 
that because He had not been slack concerning 
his threatenings, neither would he be unmind- 
ful of his gracious assurances. He longed to 
see more contrition of spirit : the broken 
heart is split by one stroke of the hammer, 
one withering blow, and the Spirit of the Lord 
soon binds it up ; but oh ! how seldom do we 
find the bruised, contrite spirit — crushed and 
mangled beneath the oft-repeated, the continual 
conviction of sin remaining, and consequent 
deep and sincere self-abasement. He conclud- 
ed with the opinion, that he is the truest and 



56 THE LIGHTED VALLEY, 

most successful patriot who, in every strait, can 
have recourse to the King of kings, and Lord 
of lords. 

" Just before starting for service our honored 
grandfather arrived; looking remarkably well 
after so tedious a journey. What a privilege 
it is only to be near this holy man of God — 
to hear his observations, especially at the 
present crisis, upon transpiring Events. He 
keeps all readers busy, I assure you, in supply- 
ing him with the news. 

" Friday. This evening we started off in 
company with a friend, Miss. H., to Madingley, 
where it is reported that Gray beheld 

" The ploughman winding slowly o'er the lea." 

Oh how shall I describe that walk! — the sweet 
converse by the way, and the exquisite view 
of the dear little church buried in ivy and 
yew trees! It is situated in the corner of 
Lady C.'s Park ; so that we had at the same 
time a fine view of the family mansion, which 
stands on the banks of the Cam. 

A nice old woman with mob cap and clean 
blue apron, let us into the sacred building, 
where we revelled for a full hour, amid half- 



HER VTSIT TO ENGLAND. 57 

defaced brasses, old-fashioned monuments, and 
richly-stained windows. 

" The tomb of Sir Vincent Cotton, the late 
Admiral, is remarkably striking ; over it seems 
to wave a splendidly carved marble flag. 
Another to the memory of 'Dame Cotton/ 
supports the kneeling figure engaged in prayer. 
' Mistress Cotton/ of still more ancient date, is 
represented as reclining in sleep. What a 
hallowedness reigns within and without such a 
spot ; around lie the villagers for many an age 
back, and so thickly crowded are their narrow 
homes that I should think the ground is raised 
quite two feet above its original level — but 
then it is the dust of father and son, of mother 
and child, that mingles sweetly together. One 
corner of the yard appeared to be devoted 
to the servants of the great house ; the inscrip- 
tions read thus : ' to the memory of William 
Phipps, for many years a faithful servant at 
the Mansion, this monument is erected by his 
friend and master/ 'Mark the perfect man/ 
&c. After singing in this charming retreat the 
good old hymn 'Glory to Thee/ w T e returned 
home, only wishing many and many a time 



58 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

that you, precious ones, could have completed 
our happiness. # # # # # 

" Sunday. What privileges we have, my pre- 
cious sisters, on this hallowed day. The chapel 
was thronged inside and out, to hear, as the 
paper stated it, ' that eminent servant of God, 
the Rev. William Jay.' Our party was of 
course scattered in every direction, throughout 
the congregation. I was pushed into a pew, 
where, for a few moments, I met with no very 
gentle treatment ; and having one hand bound 
up as useless with a felon, could poorly defend 
myself: but soon the lady turned round and 
asked if my name was ' Bolton,' — ' Yes,' I 
replied. ' Indeed !' said she (pushing me a 
footstool) 'I thought as much. — How long 
have you been absent ?' ' Twelve years.' 
'Won't you take this hymn-book, my dear? — 
That is indeed a long time to have been 
separated from such an esteemed relative.' 
So the good woman went on till I had every- 
thing I wanted — Bible, hymn-book and all! 
After service, when thanking her for my seat, 
she said ' it was rather an honor to her ; 
and instantly began to make known to those 
around her the fact that she had been so 



HER VISIT TO ENGLAND. 59 

indulged. So you see, my dears, the story of 
Bishop George may be true yet. Grandpapa's 
text was from Exodus xv. 27. The heads — 
first, how they came there ; second, what they 
found there ; third, w T hat they did there. Life 
is a chequered scene ; they had been led 
through the wilderness ; had tasted the bitter 
waters of Marah, and now had peace and 
refreshment — but mark ! they only encamped — 
Canaan was their rest — yours, too, Christian! 
lies beyond the swelling flood. Then why shrink 
from Jordan ? Think what it shuts you out 
from ! — serpents and enemies, fatigue and dis- 
tress ! And oh ! what does it shut you into ! — 
The fulness of joy and pleasures for evermore ! 

" Once he ventured to speak of the dear ones 
awaiting us there : but it was too much for 
him ; and w T ith a deep sigh he turned to address 
those who, having no high-priest to part the 
flood, might never, never gain that blissful shore ! 

" The first hymn was 

1 Come thou fount of every blessing/ 
anci the concluding one, 

* Guide me, thou great Jehovah T 



60 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

Was it not good for us to be there ! Would 
that you could have shared also I" 

Such were the cravings of her spiritual ap- 
petite, such not only her own hungering and 
thirsting after the word of truth, but her ear- 
nest desire to spread its influence, and make 
known to others the source of all her blessed- 
ness, that when kind friends remonstrated with 
her against attending to Sabbath school duties, 
as she was but a visitor, and her health seemed 
to need the relaxation, she meekly but most 
earnestly replied, " Oh ! deprive me not of my 
sweetest pleasures !" 

Life was to her so fleeting in its nature, and 
so little to be desired in itself, save as a means 
to a glorious end, that in the service of God 
she could brook no denial of its time. She 
scrupulously saved it from the world's dissipa- 
tion that she might spend it freely for her 
Saviour's glory. We think we do not use lan- 
guage too strong, when we say that her voca- 
tion was " doing good." Her heart was open, 
her mind prepared, and her affections alive, to 
do whatever might occur in a way of duty. The 
young artisan does not bind himself by firmer 
articles to the rigid performance of his master's 



HER VISIT TO ENGLAND. 61 

work, than this young disciple devoted herself 
to the active service of that Divine Master, 
who himself went about doing good. She 
looked not at what she had done, but on that 
which there was yet to do ; therefore in con- 
tinuation she says : 

" In the afternoon I slipped off with J 

to the Sunday school, calling for Miss W 

by the way. I was again so happy as to have 

Mrs. T 's class, which I assure you it is 

an honor to teach; they not only know the 
Scriptures, but many of the number have been 

made by them wise unto salvation. J 's 

address was upon the influences of the Holy 
Spirit; and particularly intended for those 
who had hopefully joined the church the week 

previous. We walked home with the W s, 

and enjoyed truly spiritual converse by the 
way. Oh ! these religious privileges ! How 
shall we give them up ! But God can supply 
all our need, and by his sweet presence make 
superfluous all earthly aids. 

" In the evening we were off to St. Mary's, 
and heard Mr. Cams. Here as usual we had 
the choicest of wheat. — The text, Deuteronomy 
ix. 45, 46. From the subject he endeavored to 



62 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

improve the present state of the continent, as 
a warning to our own favored land — blessed, 
happy people, whose God is the Lord !" 

She mourns, through the remaining part 
of her letter, the necessity which found her in 
a somewhat gay and heartless, because worldly 
company one evening — 

" Oh ! who can find pleasure in such vanity 
of vanities ! By my singing 1 generally escape 
much of the frivolous conversation. It is 
quite a trial, but more than fully counterbal- 
anced by the sweet, inestimable religious priv- 
ileges which we so richly enjoy. 

" What more can I say to you, my precious 
ones ! it is no use, we cannot exist long apart, 
and three thousand miles is a pretty long 
stretch for these tender strings — too long to 
hold out for more than .four months. May the 
same sweet presence be with you in which we 
so delight, and hope ever to find our only hap- 
piness. Ever your devoted sister." 

Again : 

"June 15th. 
" Since last I wrote, my precious sisters, we 
have been to London ; seen all the wonders of 
that " Mammoth Town/' as Jenny Lind calls 



HER VISIT TO ENGLAND. 63 

it ; spent a very pleasant time with dear F , 

and the chicks, and have once more received 
a hearty welcome from dear Aunt and Uncle in 
Cambridge. 

" Is not God dealing most tenderly with us ! 
Beneath the shadow of his wings we compass 
sea and land in perfect safety; so that even 
now, as the time draws near for us once more 
to launch forth upon the mighty deep, we can 
say with sweet confidence, 

' Our steadfast hearts shall know no fear. 
Those hearts are fixed on Thee.' 

We have just returned from hearing Mr. 
Cams ; certainly to-night he has poured out 
his whole soul in those sweet words of St. 
Paul, 2 Corinthians, xii. 7, 8, 9. He showed 
how pride, man's first sin, was his besetting 
sin, and the last over which he triumphs; 
and how often, when deeply humbled on ac- 
count of transgression, we are actually proud 
of that humility. The subject divided itself 
naturally into the affliction, the reason, the 
prayer, the answer, the effect. Wisely, the 
particular cause of the Apostle's distress had 
not been specified — whether of body or of 



64 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

mind, whether personal or relative. Whom 
the Lord loveth he is sure to chasten, lest being 
lifted up with the wicked, it be but to be cast 
down forever. Go straight to Jesus with thy 
sorrows ; has he not promised, ' I will sustain 
thee' — not remove the load, but help thee to 
bear it as the child weighed down beneath its 
load of infant vanities, cries out to its father 
for aid, he takes up the child and all into his 
arms. He dwelt much upon the answer. Oh ! 
marvellous condescension ! that that strength 
which laid the beams of earth and heaven, 
which leads captive the powers of death and 
hell, is perfected only through our weakness ! 
What a paradox, the effect produced ! ' He 
therefore gloried in his infirmities/ The hymn 
was most fitly chosen ; . 

' Begone unbelief, my Saviour is near.' 

He is well fitted to comfort others ; for at this 
very time he is most sorely tried on all hands, 
and his name cast out as evil by very many 
who feel self-condemned, in beholding his un- 
wearied efforts to do good here. 

" Friday. To-day has arrived a letter from 
home, as cold water to a thirsty soul. We re- 



HER VISIT TO ENGLAND. 65 

joice to hear that you are all so mercifully 
well, and only wish we could share your labors. 
I somehow T or other feel so idle, not knowing 
what to say, w T hen at night the question comes, 
' Soul ! where hast thou gleaned to-day 7 But 
I comfort myself with the thought that the 
scythe is now being sharpened to cut the bet- 
ter by-and-by. 

" We visit the schools as often as possible, in 
order to learn all that mav be turned to ac- 

ml 

count in our own quarter, and are quite greedy 
after any tract or book which we should be 
sure to find useful. This morning I was glad 

to help Miss T , Miss W , and Miss 

S , in Barnwell schools, as the district 

teacher is absent for a week. J also took 

a class in cyphering ; and so we managed to 
keep the machine going. It was so delight- 
ful to be once more busily and usefully em- 
ployed, and to be a fellow-laborer with those 
good, disinterested creatures, who, in spite of 
fatigue and the ridicule of the worldly, devote 
themselves to execute the commands of their 
Saviour, ' Feed my lambs/ " 

An ardent lover of poetry, herself an hum- 
ble favorite of the muse, we can readily 



66 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

imagine her glad surprise at the discovery 
which follows : 

" In the evening accompanied Papa to hear 
service in Trinity College chapel ; we found 
the doors closed, being a little too early, and so 
passed under the great archway erected by 
Edward III., and came out upon a little church, 
which by its open gate seemed to invite our 
entrance. We went in ; and as it was Satur- 
day night, we found the pew-opener busily 
brushing and beating up ready for Sunday. 
He soon saw that we w T ere interested in the 
antiquity of the place, and said if we would 
walk to the chancel, he thought he would show 
us something worth looking at. I shall never 
forget my surprise, when, raising the matting, he 
pointed to the flat, gray stone, on which is in- 
scribed the simple name, ' Henry Kirke White/ 
Yes, just a few feet down repose those sacred 
remains ! — but, miles above this world of sin 
and sorrow, we believe the happy freed spirit 
is at rest forever ! 

1 In purer skies thy radiance beams t 
Thy lyre's employ'd on nobler themes, 
Before the eternal throne; " 



HER VISIT TO ENGLAND. 67 

We may be pardoned perhaps a momentary 
interruption of the narrative by the conclu- 
ding stanzas of Conder's ode, so peculiarly ap- 
propriate to our sister, as her kindred spirit 
gazed in pensive admiration : 

" Although with feeble wing, 
Thy flight I would pursue, 
With quicken' d zeal, with humble pride, 
.Alike our object, hopes, and guide, 
One heaven alike in view : 
True, it was thine 
To tower, to shine ; 
But I may make thy milder virtues mine. 

If Jesus own my name, 

(Though Fame pronounced it never,) 
Sweet spirit, not with thee alone, 
But all whose absence here I moan, 
Circling with harps the golden throne, 
I shall unite forever : 
At death, then, why 
Tremble or sigh ? 
Oh ! who would wish to live, but he who fears to die /" 

She adds in conclusion : 

" At the other end of the church are some 
sweet lines to his memory on a monumental 
tablet, with a medallion by Chantrey, which 
represents him as very youthful and interest- 



68 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

ing in appearance. It was erected by Francis 
Booth, Esq., of Boston, United States. 

i * Far o'er th' Atlantic wave, 

A wanderer came, and sought the Poet's grave ; 
On yon low stone, he saw his lonely name, 
Then raised this fond memorial to his fame.' 

" Here also we were shown one of the Bi- 
bles which they used to chain in their churches. 
It was published in Switzerland, being a trans- 
lation from the Latin. ' Let us thank God/ 
said the good old sexton, ' his word aint bound 
now-a-days.' True, my good man ; but let us 
take heed that while it has free course, it may 
be glorified amongst us. We turned towards 
Trinity chapel, and heard one of Handel's 
splendid anthems from the communion ser- 
vice." 

True as the needle to the pole, we have our 
sister turning again to her Sabbath privileges 
in the next. 

" Sunday morning. Heard Mr. Carus from 
The baptism of Christ. The subject divided 
itself first into the united, and then into the 
distinct acts of the Trinity — the submission of 
Christ — the presence of the Spirit — and the at- 



HER VISIT TO ENGLAND. 69 

testation of the Father. ■ Amid the crowd of 
publicans who pressed to the sacred ordinance, 
behold the spotless Jesus too disdaining not to 
come, that he may fulfil all righteousness/ 
How readily does the Spirit witness with our 
spirit that we are the sons of God. 

" The afternoon was spent at the school. 
Papa addressed the children; the crowd was 
so great that one of the teachers fainted, and 
was obliged to be carried out. All seemed de- 
lighted, and were attention itself. At dinner 
a note had been handed to Papa from Mr. Ca- 
ms, to say, that as he could not be in Cam- 
bridge the following morning, to meet us as pro- 
posed, he hoped we would all come into Trin- 
ity College after church and take tea with him, 
as during the vacation there were not men 
enough up to address as usual. He gave us a 
delightful sermon from Eph. ii. 18; showed 
how the middle wall of partition is now done 
away, and how through the rent in the veil of 
the temple, all might now behold the Holy of 
holies. But he charged us most solemnly not 
to abuse the freedom of access by rushing 
heedlessly into the divine presence ; we can 



70 



THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 



only venture to approach by the ' blood of 
sprinkling — by the true and living way/ 

" After service we repaired to his rooms in 
college, and enjoyed a blessed time indeed. 
It was good to be there. Oh! that by fre- 
quent intercourse with such exalted Christians, 
we may imbibe somewhat of their spiritual- 
mindedness. Let us no more be satisfied, my 
dear sisters, with low attainments ; but covet 
earnestly the best gifts. I know that it is easy 
enough to say all this ; but how difficult to 
realize practically that we are not straitened 
in Him, ' in whom are hid all the treasures of 
wisdom and knowledge/ 

" Monday evening. Spent in Catherine Hall 
with Mr. H , a Fellow. Here was gath- 
ered quite a little band of Christians, all truly 
pious people. The evening concluded with 
prayer and a short exposition from Papa, and 
that charming hymn, 

* There is a fountain filled with blood,' 



to the tune Devizes, played by dear Mrs. 

M . 

"Oh that we may make the most of our 
present privileges, to kindle our own flame of 



HER VISIT TO ENGLAND. 71 

love, that we may cheer up your desponding 
hearts when we meet again/' 

But one other extract must suffice, from her 
last letter, to prove the reality and practical na- 
ture of her religion as her animating motive, 
her predominating principle and pursuit; as 
much as worldly things would be the motive 
and the pursuit of others. 

" Saturday. Went this afternoon with J 

to visit a poor woman who has just come out 
of the hospital. She suffers the most excru- 
ciating pains, and all without a murmur ; while 
the praises of her Saviour are continually 

upon her lips. J is reading to her the 

Pilgrim's Progress, and her comments upon it 
are most surprising. Surely God hath chosen 
the weak things of this world to confound the 
mighty. She says the gownsmen are so ex- 
ceedingly kind in visiting her, praying with 
her, and expounding the Scriptures. Miss 
W. too, often comes in and sings to her. Oh ! 
happy woman ! She need not fear the swell- 
ing of Jordan ; the feet of her High Priest 
have already touched and parted the flood !" 

Is it to be wondered at that in writing to 
others of such a sister, and constant compan- 



72 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

ion, her brother should say, " She is inexpress- 
ibly lovely ! There is such a peculiar intelli- 
gence about her eyes, and such sweet simpli- 
city of voice and manner. Truly she is a 
bright and shining light, just what a young 
Christian ought to be. We have the most de- 
lightful walks and talks together, often to the 
Sunday and w T eek-day schools. The children 
really look upon her as an angel. But there 
— I must cease extolling the creature, and 
rather thank our Heavenly Father for giv- 
ing us such a treasure, and impressing upon 
her features so much of his own likeness. I 
can truly say in Scripture language, ' This 
same has comforted me concerning my work, 
and the toil of my hands.' " 

Referring now to the then sacred pleasures 
of this visit, and their parting, each uncon- 
scious of the future that awaited them, well 
might her brother apply the poet's words : — 

" Brilliant and beautiful ! — and can it be 
That in thy radiant eye there dwells no light ! 
Upon thy cheek no smile ! I little deemed 
At our last parting, when thy cheering yoice 
Breathed the soul's harmony, what shadowy form 
Then rose between us, and with icy dart 



HER VISIT TO ENGLAND. 73 

"Wrote ' Ye shall meet no more.' I little deemed 
That thy elastic step, Death's darkened vale 
Would tread before me. 

Sister ! I shrink to say 
Farewell to thee I * ***'**-» * 
* A healing essence, and a strengthening charm 
Next to the hope of heaven'- — such was thy love, 
Departed and deplored ! Talents were thine 
Lofty and bright — the subtle shaft of wit, 
And that keen glance of intellect which reads, 
Intuitive, the deep and mazy springs 
Of human action. Yet such meek regard 
To others' feelings, such a simple grace 
And singleness of purpose, such respect 
To woman's noiseless duties sweetly blent, 
And tempered those high gifts, that every heart 
That feared their power, loved their goodness too 1" 

Nor do we think the testimony of her hon- 
ored grandfather should be withheld : when wri- 
ting to the mother, on the eve of her sailing 
from Liverpool, taking by letter a farewell he 
could not bear in person, he says of the daugh- 
ter, " It seemed natural that we should admire 
you ; but how did we admire your child ! you 
know I am not always, nor easily, pleased with 
the young of our day ; but Abby ! completely 
satisfied me— and I longed to give her also the 
parting kiss — but knew not how to do it I" 

1 



74 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

This closes the account of her visit to 
England. It had afforded her the purest earthly 
enjoyment in many sacred privileges, and in 
delightful interviews with beloved friends of 
earlier days — christian friends and dear rela- 
tives. These farewell visits, as they have 
proved to be, will be remembered by many 
with no common interest ; and it will be 
pleasant to them to reflect how much they 
soothed her in her gentle decline through the 
scenes which followed. 



CHAPTER III. 

3&etttrtx to Sutg 



" Behold here am I, let Him do to me as seemeth good unto Him." 
2 Sam. xv. 26. 

" 'Tis thine to number out our days ; 
Ours to give them to thy praise ; 
Love is our only business here, 
Love, simple, constant and sincere. 
O blessed days thy servants see 
Spent, O Lord, in pleasing thee." 

Cowper's Guion. 



With strangely conflicting feelings the 
party returned to America — those left seemed 
as yet to apprehend no evil, those who awaited 
their arrival in blissful ignorance indulged only 
pleasing anticipations of reunion ; but those 
who journeyed with the cherished object, felt 
a sadness brooding; over their hearts which 
no change could dispel. It only gathered 
strength as the wasted form re-entered the 
dwelling from which but so few months pre- 
vious, it had gone forth in all the apparent 
roundness of health and sprightliness of youth- 
ful energy. The shock to those at home in 



76 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

thus meeting her, was very great ; they felt 
a strong, an irresistible conviction, that an 
insidious and fatal disease was at work blight- 
ing this lovely bud of promise that it might 
only open 

" Where fragrant flow'rs immortal bloom, 
And joys supreme are given." 

Amidst all the pleasures and excitements of 
her arrival, the bustle and necessary occupa- 
tions of home, her heart, true to its object, 
forgets not to pour forth in a lively, simple 
strain its grateful praise to God, and sympathy 
for her fellow-man. She thus writes to her 
brother in England. 

" Would you believe it possible ! those 
roguish sisters of ours have been trying to 
persuade me that it is quite unnecessary to 
write by this steamer, arguing thal^ou would 
not expect a letter from me yet awhile, even 
insinuating that having seen me so lately you 
would hardly care for anything I might have 
to say; and all this I believe for the selfish and 
simple reason that they would like me to join 
the social party below — some drawing, some 
working. But my dearest, I know by this 



RETURN TO DUTY. 77 

time the heart of a stranger, and can feel most 
truly for one who, having an equal right to 
share in these home privileges, is called by 
dutv to forego them all. I thought the steamer 
would arrive — you would hurry home to vour 
little sanctuary — glance eagerly toward your 
table — miss something that ought to be there — 
and then you might, and justly too, say, ' Yet 
did not the chief butler remember Joseph — 
but forgat him/ But this can never, never be 
the case while you are so constantly in our 
thoughts, and your name so frequently upon 
our lips. Well, I suppose, your thoughts and 
your prayers were often with us upon the blue 
ocean — urging the wheel — lulling the hard 
winds — cooling the burning brow — and support- 
ing the fainting spirit. Is it not delightful 
to think that increasing distance only seems to 
augment our love — as the tighter the knot the 
further the cordis pulled. I was a little lonely 
on board, though sea- sickness scarcely gave 
me time to think of it. * * * # 

" The fogs at Halifax kept us back ; so that 
the fortnight was completed before we arrived 
in New York harbor. I shall never forget the 
ecstacy when they told us land was really in 



78 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

sight ; nor how lovely that land appeared after 
gazing upon nothing but the cheerless waters 
for fourteen long days. The bay is certainly 
most magnificent, and astonished those w T ho 
beheld it for the first time. We sailed in about 
10 o'clock; having taken our pilot at midnight. 
It was a most charming day ; and though na- 
ture had evidently suffered much from the late 
drought, yet the shores to our weary and longing 
eyes presented a most inviting prospect. # # * 
But what shall I say of our feelings on reach- 
ing home that afternoon, when the precious 
ones all ran out to meet us ! For some time 
no one could speak, so overcome were we with 
the thoughts of God's increasing goodness to 
our highly favored family ! ' Surely it has 
followed us all the days of our life !' May 
these lives be devoted to Him ! 

" How calmly did the sweet Sabbath dawn ; 
and in what pure and sanctified enjoyment did 
its holy hours fly by : yet it seemed too short 
indeed for all the songs of praise w T hich we 
felt constrained by all the mercies of God to 
offer up — not only in the house of prayer, but 
at the family altar. Mr. H. preached in the 
morning, taking up a collection for the mission 



RETURN TO DUTY. 79 

in Africa. In the afternoon we had quite a 
good school. Of course the children were 
charmed to excess to have back their superin- 
tendent and their teacher; wanted to know 
all about the little children in England, whether 
they learnt hymns and catechism like them- 
selves, and if they, too, gave a cent every 
Sunday to the heathen. 

" In the evening, Papa preached to an at- 
tentive and interested congregation/' 

On Tuesday afternoon, the third day after 
their arrival, in the same letter, she says, " R. 
and I have been out all the morning, calling 
upon the cottagers, and making arrangements 
in the school-house, which is being painted and 
whitewashed for the first time since it was 
built ; so that they may begin school again on 
Monday, after a holyday of a fortnight. Our 
own great business wheel will begin to turn 
next week ; and we shall then have but little 
time to think of anything but the sober, stern 
realities of* life. But I must close — my precious 
brother — what shall I say to you ! May you 
enjoy every spiritual blessing which our heaven- 
ly Father can bestow, and all the temporal 
gifts he sees best to confer. Remember ■ He 



80 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

doeth all things well / and never forget at a 
throne of grace, as you are not forgotten, 

" Your devoted sister." 

Once more, in a note to a lady, who, struck 
with her singing as she listened to her plaintive 
ballad the evening before she sailed, had most 
kindly sent her a small token of the pleasure 
she had received, she writes by the same 
steamer : — 

"I need not assure you how very unex- 
pected and kind was your remembrance of one 
so little known to you, and so entirely unworthy 
a place in your thoughts and affections. Our 
hearts were very sad just then ; for many 
dear ties, only strengthened by our late happy 
reunion, had once more to be severed! At 
such a time, the kind wishes and prayers of 
our beloved friends were most welcome ; and 
we were graciously enabled 'to cast all our 
care upon Him who careth for us,' and who — 
remember, ' Doeth all things well/ Nor has he 
made us ashamed of our hope, — within a fort- 
night from the day of sailing we were once 
more in our happy home, finding all in peace 
and safety. Surely ' goodness and mercy have 
followed us all the days of our life/ " 



RETURN TO DUTY. 81 

Once more at home and happy only in ac- 
tive employment, her health yet permitted her 
to resume many of her accustomed duties. On 
the first Sabbath, her voice took its usual lead 
in singing the praises of God in the sanctuary. 
Her Sunday scholars gathered around her with 
increased interest. Her French classes, her 
music and painting through the week, these 
occupations enlivened with social pleasures — the 
Dorcas meeting, and frequent visits to the poor 
and sick, formed the quiet and unobtrusive 
round of duties which occupied her from her 
return until Christmas — through the fall of 
1848. We say quiet and unobtrusive, because 
averse to anything like display; her retiring 
benevolence sought always the shade of secrecy. 
Were the poor and the sick visited, — it was 
alone. Her record, therefore, is only on high — 
" Sick, and ye visited me." 

If, as Hannah More observes, " The princi- 
ple is the test of the action," then did our sister 
almost hourly show forth her piety by the dis- 
position in which the quiet and unobserved 
actions of her duty w T ere performed. For with 
lovely meekness of spirit, united with great 
ripeness of judgment, she sought diligently to 



82 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

fill her station in a life to which God had been 
pleased in his wise providence to call her; 
showing an active virtue ready to do all, and a 
passive virtue ready to bear all, with every 
faculty stretched in the service of her Lord, 
and yet every thought brought into obedience 
to His will. The buckling-to to the same 
thing day after day with little or no excitement 
from her fellow-creatures' gaze — the wear and 
tear of mind and body — the constant tax upon 
faith and patience — these furnished not only a 
fair test of her principles, but a glorious means 
of conformity to her glorious Head ; and, 
doubtless, they will yet be found unto praise, 
and honor, and glory at His appearing. 

But an extract of her own selection will best 
illustrate her standard of principle and action 
under those trying circumstances. 

"How much w T isdom it needs daily and 
hourly to discover existing claims upon the 
present moment — to hush nature and hear 
peace — to stand ready among Mary's servants 
with that one order, ' Whatsoever He saith 
unto you, do it/ How easy to see, when the 
time is gone by, what ought to have been 
done; how uncommon to be of quick under- 



RETURN TO DUTY. 83 

standing in discovering, and of a ready mind 
in performing. ' The work of a day, in his 
day' is fitted as precisely as the strength re- 
quired ; and if we think we have more than 
we can do or bear, it is because yesterday's 
undone work, and yesterday's untransferred 
burden have got into the wrong place, — or it is 
that we are rebslliously lading to-day with the 
employment and cares of to-morrow. Never 
come out of o^e duty with your hand stained 
with the olood of another. Oh, I have 
often had bloody hands, while poor, slain or 
maimed duties have been lying around me, 
and I was bustling on to one which I con- 
sidered of more importance. But duty is duty : 
and each has its place ; and we shall make but 
a skeleton piece of work if we attend only to 
outlines, and neglect filling up. Some morn- 
ings, I must acknowledge, I have had such a 
crush of occupations before me, that I have 
felt almost ready to sink with the weight upon 
my bed, crying, * Who is sufficient ?' I have 
been girded with strength by the sweet as- 
surance, His hands shall be sufficient for him 
— nothing to spare, but sufficient. With this 
I spring up, and endeavor to undertake the 



84 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

day, not by the day, no, nor by the hour, but 
just by the moment. I find if I put two 
moments together, they are too heavy for me ; 
but just as my father gives them to me, one 
by one. I can fly lightly along with them, 
and do all that he has before ordained that I 
should do, and all the rest is wood, and hay, 
and stubble.' ' 

But many weeks of this apparent energy 
and activity did not pass, before it was increas- 
ingly evident to those who anxiousW and daily 
watched her, that she gradually declined. In 
spite of medical skill, with its gentle m^ans 
and strict attention to diet and exercise, her 
lagging step in walking and increasing emacia- 
tion, too plainly reiterated the truth, — " The 
flower fadeth!" 

From this time her steps descend — the 
shadows of the valley lengthen — the mists 
increase. 

But did she shrink ? Was she affrighted ? 
No, truly ; but grasping her pilgrim staff with a 
more resolute and steady hand, she calmly 
advanced, walking in the footsteps of her 
shepherd — not impatiently hastening on, nor 
yet reluctantly advancing, but deliberately 



RETURN TO DUTY. 85 

surveying the valley as she entered it — delight- 
ing always to contemplate the land beyond, to 
which she was assured she was going, and 
marvellously supported as she cast around 
her farewell look on friends and scenes be- 
loved — her faith exclaimed 'in view of all, "I 
will fear no evil." 

Would we know the ground of this confi- 
dence ? Let another of her extracts explain it, 

" He knoweth my frame ; all my desire is 
before Him ; and thanks to His wisdom and 
love, he puts no trust in me, so that I cannot 
disappoint Him, I cannot deceive Him, and I 
cannot, therefore, be left of Him for one 
moment. Oh the horror that would over- 
whelm me if he told me he meant to trust me 
for one moment, or to leave me to take one step 
by myself! But this is not the manner of our 
God, therefore I walk before Him w T ith joy ful- 
ness and gladness of heart, and w 7 hile He is my 
glorious reward, He will also 'be my fore- 
runner/ trying every step ere he suffers me to 
set my foot upon it." 

With such an assurance, is* it to be wondered 
at that our sainted sister could affirm with the 
Psalmist, " I will fear no evil ?" or that in the 

8 



86 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

language of the following chosen paragraph 
she should calmly say, " Never, I think, did I 
close a year with such quietness and confidence 
of spirit, such peace of mind, such freedom 
from care, such a cheering sense of my Be- 
loved. A chequered year, indeed, it has been ; 
but its stormy waves have owned their Maker's 
voice, and that Maker is my Husband. He 
has shown a special regard to our parterre this 
year, and would gather lilies from it. Shall 
we grudge Him his nosegay ? My nest is in- 
deed well feathered, and I have scarcely felt 
the thorn which the hand of love has entwined 
in it. One, however, I know there must be, 
and the closer I nestle the sooner I shall find 
it. Those, of course, feel it least who sit loosest, 
or stand on the edge of their nest, pluming 
their wings for flight." 

One remark here respecting these extracts 
may serve to explain for all. They are taken 
from one work entitled " Miss Plumptree's 
letters," — published only in England. A copy 
had been given our sister, on leaving that 
country in August ; it was her constant com- 
panion through all her sickness. She was never 
seen to make the selection, but as it was done 



RETURN TO DUTY. 87 

by her hand, apparently as occasion required, 
and left as a diary would be to others, it was 
doubtless intended that they should speak for 
her, to our comfort and profit : with this view 
we use them, it is hoped for more general good. 
The peculiar circumstance is strikingly charac- 
teristic of our sister's retiring disposition, which 
at any time preferred another's language rather 
than her own. In action she was prompt and 
forward ; none could surpass her — but in words 
few. The eye ever spoke more than the 
tongue. 

The year 1848 closed upon our family circle 
as yet unbroken, though the worn and weak- 
ened link excited all our worst forebodings. 
It was strangely difficult in this our first great 
trial to cultivate a quiet confidence in Him, 
who not only has all power in heaven and 
earth, but who would thus .bring us into "the 
land of the Chaldeans" only for our good. 

Another of her extracts, addressed to a 
sister, and singularly appropriate to the season 
and its circumstances, must be allowed to 
speak for her* and explain if possible a peace 
which passed all understanding, and kept her 
mind stayed upon God. 



88 THE LIGHTED VALLEY, 

" When I let nature realize where and what 
you are at the opening of this year, I am 
smitten and sore wounded, yea, my heart 
w r ithin me is desolate. But come, thou blessed 
evidence of things not seen ! come and draw 
the picture, and I shall see that you never yet 
entered on a year with so bright or cheering a 
prospect. Our nest has been stirred up indeed ; 
but when the eagle will not suffer her young to 
remain in the nest, she spreadeth abroad her 
wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings. 
And shall we complain, because called upon to 
exchange a poor nest of sticks and thorns 
for the soft feathers of the Lord's wing ? Is 
it better to be left tossing on this restless 
rest, than to dwell all day long between his 
shoulders? O my sister! he doeth thee no 
wrong. If he flutter over thee, it is that he 
may more entirely bear the burden of thee. 
If he take away thy sister a few months 
before he take thee, it is that thou may'st find 
a double friend in Him. Do you think it is all 
well with me because I thus speak ? Nay, the 
flesh lusteth against the spirit — s# that I cannot 
think or act the thing that I would, however 
I may speak; and I am humbled in knowing 



RETURN TO DUTY. 89 

what the struggle is within. I do abhor 
myself inexpressibly for my coldness and 
apathy, instead of more devoted service. I 
am stupidly taken up in looking at the little 
speck of a separation — nothing, just nothing ; 
instead of dwelling on the blessed prospect of 
being forever in the same happy, happy home. 
I sometimes wonder how anything but a tear 
of joy can be manufactured in me. 

" I do bless my God, for all that he has hitherto 
done for you ; I do see that he is faithful, that 
hath promised strength equal to your day. 
May he enable you yet more and more, to look 
unto him, and you will indeed be lightened 
in the thickest gloom — you will evidence that 
the believer walks by faith and not by sight, 
that he has meat to eat that the world knows 
not of, and joy that a stranger doth not meddle 
with. The Lord grant you a treble portion of 
His Spirit. I find those nicely quieting words 
when something whispers I am greatly afflict- 
ed — ' It is of the Lord's mercies that we are 

not consumed.' " 

8* 



CHAPTER IV. 

Visi ts from lome 



"The Lord shall preserve thy going out, and thy coming in, from this 
time forth and for evermore." — Ps. cxxi. 8. 

" Hast thou not given thy word 
To save my soul from death? 
And I can trust my Lord 
To keep my mortal breath. 

I'll go and come, 

Nor fear to die, 

Till from on high 

Thou call me home." Watts. 



Feeling sensible, beyond any further dis- 
guise, of her increasing weakness and inability 
to continue her share of labor, yet unwilling 
to yield to inactivity and repose, while any 
means were left untried to strengthen her, our 
sister desired earnestly to visit among her 
friends in Brooklyn. Her parents, still hoping, 
though still deceived, that a change of scene 
and air, with entire relaxation from the cares 
and anxieties of home, might indeed prove 
beneficial, consented. 

She much enjoyed again the opportunities 



VISITS FROM HOME. 91 

thus afforded by a city life, of close attendance 
upon the various religious services of the 
Sabbath and week-davs. Her friend bears 
testimony to her peculiar love for the prayer- 
meetings : while the superintendent of the 
Sabbath school, a stranger to her, was heard to 
refer to her as a model of " the faithful, earnest, 
teacher." While here, at the urgent request 
of friends and her own desire, she was placed 
under new medical treatment. It required 
much effort and exposure ; and finding from 
the first that her strength only continued to 
decline, while the new and alarming symptoms 
of a cough and pain in the hip appeared, it was 
deemed advisable promptly to withdraw her 
from the treatment, and call in other medical 
advice. 

A consultation was held : her lungs were 
sounded ; and all agreeing that as yet there 
was no evidence of active disease but such 
extreme debility of all the vital organs as 
would render it critical for even a cold to be 
taken, while exercise in the open air must be 
secured, she was gratified by the promise of an 
immediate visit to the south. 



92 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

Writing home at this time, and alluding to 
herself, she says : 

" To what different duties are we called — 
you to act, and / to bear. 1 assure you, what 
I feel most is the necessity of keeping quiet, 
and being a mere looker-on — of seeing others 
burdened with duties I once was happy in 
sharing; but it is doubtless all for the best, and 
will work together for my real good." 

Her birthday passed during this absence 
from home. Thus reaching the last mile-stone 
on the road of life — recognizing it as such, as- 
sured that she was now very near to her " Fa- 
ther's house" — " to the rest that remaineth," it 
may be supposed that now, if ever, holy 
thoughts would have stirred her to write her 
reflections : but no ; in her own peculiar, quiet 
way, she puts forth another extract from a let- 
ter to a sister, as entirely expressive of her 
own views and feelings. 

" Oh ! that my own cold heart may be 
warmed on this my birthday. It is not many 
years since God gave me being, and fewer still 
' since the hand of covenant-love let down the 
curtain, and shut out the fair prospect of earth- 
ly shadows.' It is not many years since, to my 



VISITS FROM HOME. £3 

weary, wandering, tearful eves, the veil of the 
temple was rent from the top to the bottom, 
and the sweet sound was heard, 'Come in, 
thou blessed of the Lord — wherefore standest 
thou without?' It is not many years ago 
since the Lord, the King, set the vilest of my 
Father's house among them that did eat at his 
own table. After such matchless, free love, 
what right had I to cry any more unto the 
King, had he stripped me of all, and bid me 
travel on alone, and desolate, to the home 
which He had prepared for me ? But this was 
but the beginning of mercies to me. Had I 
been then told that every brother, every sister, 
and both my parents, should sit with me at the 
banquet which the King had prepared, I 
should scarcely have conceived it possible that 
an earthly tabernacle could have contained a 
heart so loaded with benefits — that anything 
short of the hallelujahs of heaven could have 
satisfied my bursting soul. My soul, my soul ! 
how can'st thou forget such benefits, or remain 
so cold under the remembrance of them ! Nor 
would I stop at calling mercy. Oh ! the mira- 
cle, the hourly miracle, of keeping, restoring, 
restraining mercy. # # * All above, 



94 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

and all below, cry now with redoubled power, 
'Onward, onward!' # * # I would 

leave you all in the hands of Him who has 
loved you so much longer, so much better than 
I have. If health, if ease be good, God will 
not withhold them. If weakness and pain are 
good, I would not ask God to withhold them. 

" I have now but a small share of strength, 
it is true : but He kindly shows me it is quite 
enough ; more would be poison to the inner 
man. My independent spirit is thus kept de- 
pendent, and He thus makes me cling continu- 
ally to the posts of his doors, waiting for a sup- 
ply of hourly strength for hourly work. When 
I think I have a little hoard, and devise great 
things, I am soon laid very low. Blessed, 
blessed Keeper, truly he does keep me every 
moment. I have no complaint but weakness, 
which keeps me clinging to my Father, and I 
do not ask to have it otherwise. I would only 
desire as much strength as will glorify him." 

Speaking of the attentions she received 
from those around her, she writes gratefully, 
"I know not how I shall ever leave them. 
They are kindness itself to me, and so tender 
of my feelings : of course I never can repay 



VISITS FROM HOME. 95 

this, because it is so peculiarly refined ; but 
they seem sufficiently recompensed in having 
made me so happy, and I shall never cease to 
remember, and be most grateful for it all." 

"If there was any one thing," say these 
friends, " more peculiarly striking than ano- 
ther, it was the spirit of prayer, which seemed 
like an atmosphere to surround her." 

Yes, having loved the mercy-seat in health, 
she found ready access to it in the time of 
need. To her it w r as the alone happy spot on 
earth ; for she knew and felt that the covenant 
only, of grace and love, w^as around it. 

She was at this time suffering much from 
acute pain and sleepless nights, which now 
rapidly reduced her strength. To her young 
friend she spoke with composure and certainty, 
of her's being a " sickness unto death." Though 
this seems to be the first time she ever ex- 
pressed her conviction, yet we can find no 
evidence that, for nearly a year previous to 
this, she had a thought or even a wish to re- 
cover. Alluding at this time to a future place, 
she added, "If I should recover — not that I 
wish it for myself/ No, debarred as she now 
was from any Christian privilege and enjoy- 



96 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

ment in public — loving as she had done so 
devotedly the earthly courts of her God — she 
could now only long for the time when her 
eyes would see Him, when she should behold 
the King in his beauty, when she should no 
longer carry a body of sin to an impure temple, 
but, when with a spiritual body she should 
awake up in His likeness, and serve him in 
that glorious temple where no unclean thing 
can enter, where we shall no more go out — no 
weak body, no aching head — where the in- 
habitant shall no more say, " I am sick." 

On Monday, March the 5th, she was brought 
home. After spending a week of much suf- 
fering there, enduring severe paroxysms of 
pain from a cause quite unknown, and busied 
in the preparation for her southern journey, 
she started, accompanied by a sister and 
brother. This separation was indeed one of 
the most bitter drops in the cup of trial that 
her surviving friends have been called to drink ; 
but her own earnest request, and the repeated 
assurances of friends and physicians, that it 
was desirable, and indeed a necessary pre- 
caution against the trying spring weather, 
brought our minds at last to acquiesce in the 



VISITS FROM HOME. 97 

plan. Her own unruffled calmness through 
the painful scene of parting was most extraor- 
dinary. While silence sealed her lips, her 
heart pondered the love that was thus afflicting, 
and her hope cast anchor upon the blessed 
assurance, "He doeth all things well." Her 
faith kept even the outward man stayed upon 
her God; as though she had uttered, rather 
than simply chosen, the following extract ap- 
propriate to this trying hour : — 

" One who loves you infinitely better than I, 
but with infinitely wise love, may be preparing 
to send you a roll, written within and without — 
a roll which he will spread before you — a roll 
wherein are written lamentation, mourning, 
and woe. But dry your eyes, foved ones, and 
gaze upon the hand that spreads it. Do you 
see the print of the nail and can you ask, 
' Lovest thou me 7 Ah ! did you get a glimpse 
of his heart — did you observe the reluctance 
there — the unwillingness — the affliction in all 
your afflictions ? Did you not see the other 
hand pointing to ' the end of the Lord/ show- 
ing you that he was only bringing about the 
very thing you have so often asked for ? Yes, 
if he has a dismal roll to spread before you, it 

9 



98 THE LIGHTED VALLEY 

shall be so lighted and gilded with rays of love 
and glory, you shall almost, forget that it is a 
cloud, while it doss but set off those wondrous 
rays. Now, do settle it in your hearts, not to 
meditate beforehand upon what may be in this 
roll, or in that cloud. You cannot get strength, 
and joy, and peace in anticipation, but with 
the trial they will be sure to come." 

So she believed, and so she acted — with a 
settled, calm demeanor, that imparted strength 
to the beholder : and what was the result ? 

" When I parted from you, my loved ones, 
I felt indeed for a few moments as an unsup- 
ported reed, shaken by the wind ; but, blessed 
be God ! I was enabled to flee to the secret of 
the pavilion of love set apart for the day of 
trouble ; everlasting arms were placed around 
me, and the sweet whisper of the Friend that 
sticketh closer than the most affectionate of 
earthly friends, ' I will not leave thee comfort- 
less, I will come unto thee/ was as the south 
wind breathing upon my garden, and causing 
the spices of praise and thanksgiving to flow 
forth. The spirit of heaviness was compara- 
tively dispersed, and the garment of praise 
seemed to clothe me." 



VISITS FROM HOME. 99 

From the time she started, she seemed only 
to revive. Nearly a fortnight was passed in 
Philadelphia, in the house "of a very kind friend, 
whom God had interested for this our precious 
invalid — receiving kindness and attention on 
every hand, returning as she was able the 
civilities shown her from society, sharing w T ith 
others, to a limited extent, the pleasures of 
sight-seeing, and again enjoying, above all, the 
rich religious privileges that favored city 
affords. 

An extract from a letter home, the last she 
was ever permitted to write, will prove by its 
sprightliness how entirely the mind triumphed 
over the body, affection for others, over self- 
gratification : for while apparently enjoying 
with her kind friends all rational and simple 
pleasures, with, perhaps, a greater show of 
energy and spirit than some in perfect health, 
she w f as still suffering acute pain in her hip, 
could only walk with difficulty, and was lite- 
rally wearing out with a succession of sleep- 
less nights. Yet so far from complaint — even 
from speaking about herself — she makes but 
one slight allusion to her state, lest those " too 
dear" should be pained on her account. 



100 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

" I should have written before, were it only 
to assure you that I am still in the land of the 

living ; but R and W -being able to do 

so much more in the way of sight-seeing than 
my troublesome lameness will allow, I thought 
it better that they should inform you of all 
that is to be seen and heard in this delightful 
city, — for you must know we have lost our 
hearts here ; though to be sure, that is natural 
enough in the city of 'Brotherly Love.' The 
quiet and order observable, both in the public 
buildings and in the streets, the domestic com- 
fort and hospitality, which is here everywhere 
met with, contrast strikingly with the coldness 
and heartlessness of New York — as you can 
imagine. Certainly we have been very favora- 
bly situated for strangers ; but the rich religious 
privileges which abound, are open to all. Yes- 
terday our kind host, seeing the interest we 
took in everything connected with natural 
philosophy, said he had a small collection of 
shells, made by his family in Cuba, to any 
duplicates of which we were most welcome. 
They were accordingly brought down ; and 
as the day proved wet, the selection has given 
us some very pleasant amusement. But such 



VISITS FROM HOME. 101 

generous licenses only make one the more del- 
icate in accepting ; so you must not expect 
great things in either sense of the word. You 
can imagine how difficult it was for me to keep 
my hands from picking and stealing. I fan- 
cied how sweetly they might be grouped 
on paper ; and really believe I only coveted 
them for some useful end." 

So that even on this ordinary occasion, 
in spite of weakness which naturally leads 
to repose, or of suffering which engenders 
and almost excuses selfishness, or the mani- 
fest uncertainty of her life which itself an- 
nihilates plans, our sister could not divert her 
mind from the one great object of life, "a 
useful end." The principle implanted in early 
childhood by parental discipline and prayer, 
and kept in due exercise through every day 
of her life, had become thus a habit. Each 
act strengthening the inclination, added vigor 
to the principle, and pleasure to the perform- 
ance, till "to do good/' "to be useful," was 
as much her motive, her principle, her pur- 
suit, as worldly things are the predominating 
motive, principle, and pursuit of the thou- 
sands who daily sacrifice at Fashion's shrine. 



102 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

Of shells she was peculiarly fond, and ex- 
celled greatly in painting them from Nature. 
Indeed any branch of Natural Science, or Phi- 
losphy, from the heavens above to the treasures 
of the ocean's depth beneath, did not fail to 
excite her simple and pure taste, and afford her 
abiding interest. 

New medical advice was taken during their 
stay in Philadelphia ; former opinions were 
confirmed, and a removal, still further south, 
was urged. Calling to take leave of a Chris- 
tian friend, the conversation turned upon 
death — a familiar subject to our sister's mind, 
never shunned, nor at all dreaded. On this 
occasion she expressed frankly her opinion 
that a Christian ought not to have a fear 
of dying ; said it had long been taken from 
her. The assurance that even "Death was 
hers," and that this with the "all things else," 
would work together for her good, was un- 
speakably precious to her. With perfect con- 
fidence she could say and feel — 

" There is a secret in the ways of God 
"With his own children, which none others know, 
That sweetens all he does ; and if such peace, 
While under his afflicting hand, we find, 



VISITS FROM HOME. 103 

What will it be to see Him as He is, 

And past the reach of all that now disturbs 

The tranquil soul's repose { — To contemplate 

In retrospect unclouded, all the means 

By which his wisdom has prepar'd his saints 

For the vast weight of glory which remains ! 

Come then. Affliction, if my Father bids, 

And be my frowning friend ; a friend that frowns 

Is better than a smiling enemy." 

So believing, her bright Hope was ever wing- 
ing itself for glory : often was she expressing 
her desire to be "at horns" in heaven. 

Following the medical advice they had 
sought, they again set forth. A long day's 
journey brought the travellers to Baltimore. 
This ride she seemed much to enjoy, no- 
ticing continually the new beauties through 
which they passed, and really appearing less 
fatigued at the journey's end than those in 
health who accompanied her. The next day 
was the Sabbath. Truly did she rejoice, and 
was glad, for the sweet rest it afforded her — 
not hailed as a rest for the body, but the mind — 
rest from the thoughts, the hurry, and the 
confusion of earth ; for notwithstanding the 
long journey, which alone was sufficient to 
induce her, and a suffering and wasting frame 



104 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

which surely would excuse her from moving 
out, yet neither rain, nor earnest entreaties 
could keep her back from the much loved 
House of God. She was delighted with the 
sermon from Dr. Johns, on those precious 
words, " He made him to be sin for us, who 
knew r no sin/' The simplicity, yet depth of his 
reasoning peculiarly struck her. The subject 
itself was most grateful to her, " The love of 
God !" — the great love wherewith he loved 
us ! as in another of her extracts she would 
exclaim, " What a happy study will this be 
for an uninterrupted eternity ! Here when we 
think we have got on a little in the sweet 
lesson, one little cloud comes, and is enough to 
blot it all out, and leave us as though we had 
never known a letter of it. I, who can write 
of it now, and in some small degree realize 
it, may to-morrow be grieving his loving heart 
by questioning if it be really so, — needing line 
upon line, promise upon promise, with a bright 
sunshiny day to enable me to make out one 
word of the lesson, of which I thought I knew 
a great deal but a little while ago." 

She was much distressed at the dinner table, 
by the conduct, and ungodly conversation of a 



VISITS FROM HOME. 105 

party who sat opposite to her. While she 
pitied the poor souls thus trifling on the brink 
of eternity, a feeling of deep gratitude was 
awakened for herself, as she reviewed the dis- 
tinguishing grace which had so undeservedly 
made her to differ. A continuance of the rain 
prevented her from going again to church. 
Two days were passed pleasantly in Baltimore, 
visiting some buildings of interest abroad, and 
happy at home in the pleasing but passing ac- 
quaintance of a young lady, herself a traveller. 
Finding her apparently much better, her 
sister remarked to her 5 " If you continue thus 
to improve, we shall soon be able to return 
home refreshed, to the help of those on whom 
so much has devolved," — but here a painful 
chord was struck — the active spirit fettered 
by the body, groaned, being burdened. " Think, 
dear," she replied with emotion, "if you feel 
so anxious after so short a rest, what must 
/ have endured so long in being laid aside 
from anything like active usefulness. For 
months to have been idle !" " There are times 
when the gales of self will blow so strongly— 
when I struggle so hard to get the rudder out 
of my blessed Pilot's hand, that measuring his 



106 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

thoughts and ways by my own, I am almost 
led to conclude, he cannot be a just God, if he 
leave me not to myself, and break not my 
stubborn will, by suffering me to split upon 
some dangerous rock. But no — he cannot — 
he w T ill not. The covenant of peace cannot be 
removed. Be still, and know that I am God. 
My strength shall be made perfect in weakness!' 
So was her impatience checked by the faith 
of this extract. Activity was her pleasure, 
idleness her pain, but God's will the divine 
regulator of her life. 

Passing on to Washington, the travellers 
arrived there on Tuesday the 27th, in a very 
unseasonable snow-storm ; this, with an increase 
of pain by a severe felon on the finger, to 
one who was already so weak that even the 
grasshopper was a burden, seemed to chill her 
interest. Yet she did not repine. Faith rec- 
ognized a necessity in all — humility acknowl- 
edged its deservings. "It is with the thorns 
of the wilderness, and with briers, we must 
be taught that which we could not learn on 
a bed of roses." 

She visited as she was able the Capitol 
and other public buildings ; seemed to enjoy 



VISITS FROM HOME. 107 

much the society of the Hotel, was evidently 
much pleased with the kindness, which here, as 
indeed everywhere else, she so invariably 
drew from strangers — 'twas but to see her, 
and the heart rested on and entirely loved her. 

While here she received tidings from home 
of the dangerous illness, but safe recovery of 
her loved, absent brother in England, and 
an account of the happy death of a much 
respected servant in the family. While her 
feelings rested in quiet gratitude for the restora- 
tion of the one, her interest, by reason of her 
own prospect, was repeatedly manifested in 
allusions to the now perfected happiness of the 
other — " Think of her ! how happy ! She is at 
rest now V were her constant ejaculations in 
meeting or in passing — not for one day only, 
but for weeks after. As if in the language of 
another extract she had said, 

" What a world of partings this is ! Do but 
think of being in a country where no such 
sounds have ever been heard, nor ever will 
be ; where health shall spring forth as spon- 
taneously as sickness does here, and where 
the atmosphere chases away all pain, all sick- 
ness, all sorrow, all sighing, all death ; and that 



108 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

is our own dear country, our purchased pos- 
session, sure and steadfast as the throne of 
God; and yet a little day and we are all 
there ; there to go no more out ; there with all 
we have loved in Christ below ; there with our 
' altogether lovely' One." 

So clear were her evidences, so sure her 
title to this glory, through Christ who had loved 
her, that she was constantly quoting lines and 
verses of her favorite poetry, expressive of her 
rejoicing and longing to be there too — " at 
home in heaven." 

She was so anxious to leave Washington, 
that on the 29th they passed on to Alexandria, 
where she expected to find a more congenial 
atmosphere, in a circle of Christian friends — 
strangers in the flesh, but united in one hope 
of their calling : their society, therefore, was 
much to be desired. 

So man proposes, but it is God who disposes ; 
and now in infinite wisdom he prevented much 
of her anticipated enjoyment after a long and 
painful journey, by a great increase of suffering 
on the very day after her reaching Alexandria. 
New and alarming symptoms appeared, which 
at once defeated the plan of passing the Sab- 



VISITS FROM HOME. 109 

bath at the Theological Seminary, two miles 
out of the town. It was a great disappointment, 
but meekly submitted to by one whose will 
was God's. Her lameness increasing with her 
disease, she was able from this time to take 
but little exercise on foot. Resting through 
Saturday, on the Sunday she had rallied suffi- 
ciently to attend church twice in Alexandria ; 
but it was too much : through the afternoon 
service, her suffering could not be concealed 
from the anxious eyes that watched her. 

If at any time our sister had entertained a 
thought of recovery, it was certainly given up 
at this time ; for now she spoke confidently of 
her death, recognized dropsy as its herald to 
prepare her, and, as she afterwards told us, 
thought she should never have seen again her 
earthly home. The idea was painful, in a 
land of strangers ; it was, however, but a pass- 
ing cloud : soon all was apparently serene and 
calm as ever ; nature rallied quickly from the 
shock the summons had given — the conviction 
was ever after abiding, " He doeth all things 
well!" 

In the triumphant language of another of 
her extracts, hear her exclaim — 

10 



110 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

" I can now set to my seal that God is true. 
He hath dealt wondrously with me. I dare 
not open my mouth in repinings. And me- 
thinks if I had heard a decree concerning my 
loved ones, ' You must not meet again, until 
they sit down with you on my throne of glory/ 
I could yet kiss the rod and say, ' Even so, 
Father, if so it seem good in thy sight. Thou 
who hast led me so gently, so tenderly, can'st 
have nothing but purposes of love towards me 
— not as / will, but as thou wilt.' I would 
fain hope that God has now placed me on a 
loftier bough, nearer to my last nest, while he 
every now and then stirs me up, exercises my 
little pinions, and commissions the whistling 
wind and falling leaves to whisper to his little 
nestler, ' This is not your rest, because it is 
polluted/" 

So did our sister kiss the rod ; clinging but 
the more closely, and seeing but the more 
clearly the hand of the reconciled and loving 
Father that uplifted it. Thus sweet did she 
find it to rest in Him, and on Him, as every 
other prop gave way. 

On Monday morning she was able to ac- 
company our kind friend, Dr. P., to his house 



VISITS FROM HOME. Ill 

adjoining the Seminary. Here a pleasant week 
opened before her. It was Easter : this gave 
her the opportunity of enjoying service often 
in the chapel ; while every evening was closed 
with sweet sacred music, in which her clear 
and still strong voice took a prominent part. 
What fitter preparation for the employments 
of heaven! where, having put away childish 
things, she might vie with cherubim and ser- 
aphim in shouting eternal praise unto him who 
had loved her, and washed away her sins in 
his own blood. 

On Wednesday a visit was proposed to 
Mount Vernon, the residence and burial-place 
of Washington. It seemed to all impossible, 
owing to the roughness of the road, that she 
could in her enfeebled state bear the ride ; but 
her interest and her entreaties prevailed : she 
joined the party, appeared gratified with all 
she saw, and bore the fatigue with the most 
surprising fortitude. But, for the remainder of 
the visit, she did not go beyond the garden : 
into that even she could only walk with diffi- 
culty ; her lameness constantly increasing, and 
her enjoyment being peculiarly in retirement. 
Yes, though she had now descended so far into 



112 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

the valley of the shadow of death, as that she 
could distinctly see the gloomy river that rolled 
before her, and the cold dark vault that awaited 
her — yet was she not affrighted. She sought 
not for society that it might divert her, she 
courted not pleasure that it might amuse her — 
and why ? Because her feet had been led into 
a safe path, her eye had been fixed on a bright 
light beyond ; so that leaning upon the arm of 
her Beloved, she enjoyed a peace the world 
knows nothing of, and only desired quiet, re- 
tirement, even solitude, that she might con- 
template undisturbed the glorious prospect 
which awaited her, and enjoy by the way, un- 
alloyed, the rich consolations which were 
poured out to her. 

The Sabbath, April 8th, which closed this 
pleasing week, was one of communion. Little 
did those who so tenderly loved her, and then 
shared with her its privileges, know that they 
would never again partake with her of that 
cup until they should drink it new with her in 
the kingdom of their Heavenly Father ! On 
Monday the party returned to Alexandria, 
preferring to go direct to an hotel, — the invalid 
not feeling well enough that day to begin her 



VISITS FROM HOME. 113 

visit to her kind friends, the family of Dr. 

F . Through the afternoon, she suffered 

so much bodily distress, that Dr. F was 

sent for. He prescribed a palliative, but urged 
in great kindness, that she should be removed 
to his house, which was done the next morning. 
She had not been many days under his roof 
before his watchful eye discovered an abscess 
on her back just above the hip, which at once 
accounted for her acute suffering and increas- 
ing lameness. From its sluggish appearance, 
it was supposed that it would be two or three 
weeks before it would come to a crisis ; but 
that crisis must be feared, from her great weak- 
ness and extreme emaciation. Yet she betray- 
ed not the least agitation as this new feature 
of her trial was presented to her. None of 
these things moved her. Hear her acknowl- 
edge the source of her support. " He has 
been obliged to apply now a sharp instrument, 
as it were. I humbly trust I do not spurn the 
hand. He opened my eyes to recognize it for 
the same that was nailed to tne accursed tree, 
for the same that prepared a mansion in Heaven 
for me, for the same that had my worthless 
name engraven upon it ere the highest parts 

10* 



114 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

of the dust of the earth were laid ; and truly, 
scarcely could I feel the wound, before he 
gently bound it up with cords of love, pouring 
in oil and wine, — that oil that maketh glad the 
heart of man — that oil which gives him a 
cheerful countenance." In such a frame she 
soon rejoined the family circle — enlarged by 
some invited guests for the evening; among 
others, one previously known and esteemed 
highly for his works' sake, Bishop Meade. At 
his request she once more, and for the last 
time, seated herself at the piano to sing " He 
doeth all things well." There was much of 
pathos in the deep expression which the entire 
harmony of her soul gave to the sentiment ; but 
the wasted form of a lovely exterior, carried 
such a powerful conviction of her sincerity, 
and entire submission to its truth to the hearts 
of her hearers, that all were affected by it. 
By Friday evening of this week, the abscess 
was found to have made so much progress that 
an immediate and hurried return to her own 
home was advised. The symptoms were re- 
garded as altogether so decidedly unfavorable, 
that no further change, it was thought, could 
afford her even relief; while the quiet and 



VISITS FROM HOME. 115 

comfort of home were greatly to be desired for 
her. The Sunday intervening, nothing could 
be gained by starting the next morning, Satur- 
day. The day, therefore, was spent in leave- 
taking. The devoted kindness of friends had 
brought her in largely their debtor ; how could 
she repay them? Only in the influence she 
spread and left behind of a bright example of 
faith and patience, of peace and joy in believ- 
ing: which has not yet faded from their re- 
membrance, and which, it is to be hoped, may 
yet nerve them in their hour of weakness, to a 
like precious faith ; that so the anchor of their 
souls may be kept fixed upon 

" He doeth all things well." 

With one friend she left, as a token of her 
gratitude, her favorite book, her chosen travel- 
ling companion, " Cecil's Original Thoughts on 
Scripture." In the evening, her sufferings were 
great; yet she was very reluctant to detain at 
home her sister, from an interesting lecture, to 
which she was invited. At length her will 
yielded to her sister's pleasure, saying, " Well, 
you will not have to do it long, dear." Thus 
proving, in a simple, yet characteristic manner, 



116 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

that all the hope which supported her in daily 
cheerfulness, was not of earth, — dependent 
upon life ; for that she felt was ebbing fast awajr. 
On the Sabbath, April 15th, she attended 
service for the last time in God's earthly 
courts. It was perhaps a singular coincidence, 
that the text should be, " Dust thou art, and 
unto dust shalt thou return." It was a funeral 
sermon. So far from creating gloom or exci- 
ting alarm, our sister expressed herself as much 
pleased with the occasion. Superstition had 
no hold of her mind : her judgment was settled, 
her faith was established, her peace flowed as 
a river. She wished to have gone out again 
in the afternoon, but prudent friends restrained 
her. The evening was closed in sacred mu- 
sic — the last she ever joined in on earth. 
'Twas the will of God that her notes should 
be suspended till her faith was changed to sight, 
her hope lost in fruition, and her love perfected 
in praise, pure praise, unsullied with even secret 
sin, uneonfined by a frozen heart and a stam- 
mering tongue. Then in a more exalted strain 
than any earth could bear, would she join the 
choir of angels and archangels, in singing the 
song of Moses and the Lamb, harping sweet- 



VISITS FROM HOME. 117 

ly on her golden harp, eternal praise to Him 
who had loved her ; while ever and anon the 
choir of heaven would swell the chorus, 

" He doeth all things well* 

On Monday at one o'clock, she had started 
on her return home, through Washington, 
thence to Baltimore, " faint, yet pursuing/' A 
few weeks' absence had wrought a manifest 
change in the body : but the mind pursued un- 
daunted the even tenor of its way ; yea, rather 
as the body declined, the mind triumphed, and 
she delighted herself in the abundance of 
peace. 

Reviewing the progress of disease during 
this visit to the south, she selects the remark, 
" Oh the mercy that I did not know from one 
hour to another, nay, from minute to minute, 
what the next would bring forth ; that the 
mountain was laid upon me by grains, as the 
three-part crushed worm was able to bear it ; 
but I have sandals of iron and brass, and see 
inscribed over the most trying day, " So shall 
thy strength be." Storms under the guidance 
of our infallible Pilot, will but waft me more 
speedily into port; he who calleth those 



118 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

things which be not as though they were, he 
to whom are known all things before the foun- 
dation of the world, foresees every rock, and 
says, ' Things to come are yours.' Thus does 
the Christian rejoice when in the light of 
God's countenance ; and is inclined to say un- 
der every trial, ' I shall never be moved/ " 

She suffered much from the unsteady motion 
of the cars,* and was quite too feeble to con- 
verse. Warned of the fatal consequences of 
an accident to her abscess, those with her jour- 
neyed in intense agony. At Baltimore, a slight 
concussion of the cars took place, sufficient to 
throw her and several others down. Quite 
unable to help herself, when found, she could 
only give vent to her feelings in tears, but un- 
hurt, she was gently taken in a carriage to the 
hotel. Surely this was a striking proof of a 
particular providence, who, having a work yet 
to do both in her and by her, could make the 
thread cable by which her feeble life seemed to 
hang. She was deeply sensible of the mercy 
which had so wonderfully delivered her, ac- 
knowledged it often, and continued to indulge 
her poetical taste in the frequent quotation of 
appropriate verses, repeatedly measuring the 



VISITS FROM HOME. 119 

love of God to her, the gentleness which had 
brought her hitherto, and the mercy which en- 
dure th forever. 

Tuesday evening found them again in Phil- 
adelphia, met and welcomed by the same kind 
friend who had before so hospitably entertained 
them. A last interview 7 was had with Dr. 

M . He confirmed their worst fears, and 

was evidently saddened at the conviction there 
was but little hope ; renewed the caution, and 
urged them onward without delay. Many 
miles of railroad and steamboat travelling yet 
lay before them. Nature, reason even, de-" 
spaired, but faith rose in the emergency, — " As 
thy day, so shall thy strength be" — rallied ev- 
ery nerve. 

Leaving Philadelphia early in the morning, 
she seemed to suffer much from fatigue. Yet 
ill as she was, she gave her feeling in sympa- 
thy to another, who, like herself, was helpless 
under the mighty hand of God, both objects of 
deep interest to the anxious friends who attended 
them. Even in the cars, God provided her with 
an interesting friend — a fellow-passenger — a 
stranger. This interest which she everywhere 
excited, was remarkable even to the last — com- 



120 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

forting to those who remain, who see in it the 
honor which God put upon his child, as called, 
chosen, and faithful. 

The party reached New York, April 18th, 
in safety ; crossed from the wharf to the Ro- 
chelle station with difficulty, yet upheld ; and 
after a ride of eighteen miles, were mercifully 
at rest in their earthly home. 

So he brought them to " the haven where they 
would be." Through calm seas and smooth sail- 
ing ? No, it was indeed through the stormy 
wind and tempest — mounting up to heaven in 
* hope, down again to the depths in despair — 
flesh and heart failing them — so he brought 
them. Mercy, faithfulness, power, all engaged 
to the end — Himself their guide, their protector, 
their best friend. 



CHAPTER V. 



w All the days of my appointed time will I wait till my change come." 
— Job xiv. 14. 

" My cheerful soul now all the day 
Sits waiting here and sings ; 
Looks through the ruins of her clay, 

And practises her wings. 
Faith almost changes into sight 

While from afar she spies, 
Her fair inheritance, in light 
Above created skies." 

Anon. 



It was not a little remarkable and providen- 
tial, perhaps, that our sweet sister, during the 
last year of her life, should have been brought 
out of her retirement and so led about, a spec- 
tacle of moral beauty, both in England and 
America, among friends and strangers, that all 
might behold the vanity of whatever is most 
highly esteemed among men, and the transcen- 
dent worth of a hope beyond the grave. But 
now her journeyings on earth had ended. She 
had, evidently, reached the banks of Jordan. 

11 



122 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

From this time she waited her summons to 
cross the River of Death. 

Brought in in her brother's arms, and seated 
once more in the Library, in the old arm-chair, 
all saw the change : we were then convinced 
that Death had set his seal upon that placid 
brow. How did our hearts die within us! 
How prostrate did nature lie before the inscru- 
table wisdom and irresistible power of God ! 

After refreshing herself with tea, — still able 
and preferring to join the party at the table, — 
she was carried to her room, and there gently 
laid in the bed from which she was not to rise 
for three weeks. There was not an anxious 
fear expressed : neither was there a wish 
uttered. No, every desire had been so com- 
pletely satisfied in the mercy that had brought 
her home, that from this time forward, she 
sunk into a calm — the tumult of her thoughts 
within her died away with the grateful feeling, 
"It is enough/' 

The family physician was sent for, that we 
might be apprized of all we were to expect, 
and prepared for anything that might happen 
through the night. From the moment he saw 



HER SICKNESS. 123 

her, he gave no hope of her recovery, and 
candidly expressed his opinion. Though we 
thought we had been already convinced, yet 
now the authorized assurance of the fact fell 
like a thunder-bolt upon us. We had, till now, 
been buoyed up with the opinion, that there 
was no active disease ; and though this abscess 
we knew was critical, yet, who could tell ? it 
might afford all the relief that was desired ; 
from the time of its discharge the whole sys- 
tem might rally. But such was not to be the 
manner of our God towards us. Yet blessed 
be His glorious name forever, who stilleth the 
raging of the sea after its first swell, to let us 
know what a storm there might have been but 
for His power, all was soon a calm ; and the 
same wounded hearts did again trust Him for 
every step in each of their paths, while, stayed 
upon his faithfulness and tender love, they 
once more enjoyed a perfect peace. As we 
all separated for the night; how gratefully 
did the lines suggest themselves, — 

" Give to the winds thy fears, 
Hope and be undismay'd ; 
God hears thy sighs, and counts thy tears, 
He shall lift up thy head. 



124 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

Through waves, and clouds, and storms, 

He gently clears the way ; 
Wait thou his time ; so shall this night 
Soon end in joyous day. 

Still heavy is thy heart ? 

Still sink thy spirits down? 
Cast off this weight, let fear depart, 

And every care begone. 

What though thou rulest not ! 

Yet heaven and earth, and hell 
Proclaim, that God is on the throne, 

Ke doeth all things well !" 

Through Thursday and «Friday following, 
she was permitted to rest quietly : still no 
sleep could we procure for her by night ; yet 
she lay still and helpless as the infant, for the 
abscess prevented her from moving. 

On Saturday morning further advice was 

sought ; a consultation with Dr. S ■, of 

New York, was decided upon. It was, ap- 
pointed by him to visit us on Monday by an 
early train. The intervening time of Satur- 
day and Sunday were hours of darkness — yes, 
of agony, to all but to the peaceful sufferer, who 
lay calm and childlike in her confidence, utter- 
ly prostrate in strength, so that she scarcely 



HER SICKNESS. 125 

opened her eyes, much less spoke. Her ap- 
pearance was very striking and all acknowl- 
edged, peculiarly lovely. Her dark hair, un- 
confined by a cap, lay about her; and the 
bright hectic color of fever, heightened the 
picture. Perfect peace spread a calm oyer her 
countenance, which neither the anxious looks 
of those around her nor her own apprehensions 
could ever ruffle. A sweet smile settled itself 
upon her mouth, which betrayed clearly the 
inward satisfaction she enjoyed. The whole 
scene was striking to the stranger's eye, as it 
gazed upon the fond father and mother, the 
devoted band of sisters and brothers, with 
every look, and thought, and love, riveted 
upon the peaceful sufferer, while she was evi- 
dently taken into the secret of His pavilion 
whom her soul loved ; every scattered drop of 
comfort concentrated for her in One ; every 
shadow of joy substantiated in One ; till she 
could truly set to her seal that " As one whom 
his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you, 
and you shall be comforted/' " Surely you 
cannot wish to detain a spirit so nearly glo- 
rified," said a friend on leaving her room that 
morning. 

11* I 



126 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

It was now peculiarly that our sister was 
called to live upon in sickness, what had often 
been talked of in health, " the finished work 
of Jesus. " Listen to her rich experience as 
she chose, through the medium of another, to 
magnify the name of our God : " In this pecu- 
liar season, and by this trial, I trust more of 
His name was proclaimed to me, more of 
His goodness caused to pass before me : the 
strength and excellency of that power were 
displayed, by which alone I am kept unto 
salvation ; the beauty of that patience and long 
suffering was exhibited w T hich no provocation 
can wear out. no worthlessness exhaust ; the 
strength of that love was manifested, which 
'many waters cannot quench:' the glorious 
majesty of that arm was more revealed to me 
which could keep so bruised a reed from being 
utterly trampled under foot by the enemy, 
which could lift up my head in the most over- 
whelming hour, and still enable me to say, 
' Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy : when 
I fall, I shall arise ; when I sit in darkness, 
the Lord shall be a light unto me/ I know 
not that this my blessed confidence was over- 
clouded two minutes; for the Lord was my 



HER SICKNESS. 127 

sun, as well as my shield. Say, then, how 
much ought Jesus to be endeared to me ? No, 
you cannot say. Highest angels, tell if you 
can ! No, this is love you have never known, 
never tasted of: here are the depths of the 
unsearchable riches of a Saviour's love which 
you cannot fathom/' 

Again, as in allusion to her silence, lest the 
grace so richly manifested should be dishonored 
through nature's weakness : — " I would rather 
talk to myself than to you, while I look at 
the cup of consolation filled with his opening 
address, ' I am the Almighty God,' I fear to 
dilute the rich wine which none but Jesus can 
tread out ; which nothing but his precious 
veins could yield ; and even he has, on more 
than one occasion, left ' I AM' with a blank, 
as if every language stood bankrupt before it, 
as if time at its longest stretch was too strait to 
utter it, as if all worlds could only in breath- 
less silence express it." 

In the afternoon of this day, Saturday, her 
cough became very troublesome ; and the ex- 

CD J ' 

pectoration excited much alarm. She looked 
at each with an inquiring look, a searching 
glance, as if to measure the strength of their 



128 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

faith in her covenant keeping God. Finding 
His consolations abounded, she lay back per- 
fectly satisfied. 

Her room was so situated, though up stairs, 
that, with the door of both rooms open, it was 
thought she might hear and enjoy with us the 
exercises of family worship. Being asked the 
next morning whether she had heard anything, 
and would like it done in future, she answered, 
" Oh, yes ! I heard the hymn distinctly, but not 
the chapter. It was singular though, the only 
words I did catch of it were, ' Though he be 
not far from every one of us.' ' As she lay in 
the solitude of her chamber, anticipating the 
uncertain event of the morrow, it was sweet 
thus to hear echoed the great truth that alone 
supported her— the nearness and the faithful- 
ness of her God : so did his rod and his staff 
comfort her. 

Having been prevented from our ordinary 
duties in the family, the following note was 
sent, designed as a special lesson, and gratefully 
intended to strengthen the hands of the young 
people, encouraging them still to sympathize in 
" weeping with those who weep." 



HER SICKNESS. 129 

" My dear children, 

" I really must take some opportu- 
nity of expressing to you how sensibly and 
gratefully we feel your obedient, quiet, thought- 
ful conduct towards us under our great trial. 
You cannot yourselves estimate the relief you 
are thus capable of affording. God is leading 
us by a new way, the end of which we can- 
not see. We are told of dangers that threaten 
us ; we see difficulties before us ; our hearts 
faint within us, — we exclaim, ' Who is suf- 
ficient for these things ?' But shall we there- 
fore give up in despair ? shall we therefore 
turn our foot to flee ? shall we therefore try 
to drown fears ? Oh, no ! a far safer, hap- 
pier, a more noble course is open before us. 
We will trust upon the Lord, and stay our- 
selves upon our God. His right arm shall 
uphold us. His presence shall go with us. 
He will give us rest. Nothing can happen 
unforeseen to Him ; nothing can possibly be- 
fall us unknown to Him ; we go forward, there- 
fore, into the morrow, relying confidently upon 
the Lord our God, casting all our care upon 
Him, assured that He careth for us. Mercies 
untold through the past sustain us wonderfully 



130 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

at the present, and strengthen us greatly for 
the future* I rejoice already, for your sakes, 
in the opportunity God has given to you of 
seeing how strong are the supports which He 
can give. 

" Though our lips at present are silent, by 
reason of the natural feeling that is not yet 
subdued, still I can assure you, in behalf of all, 
that we are perfectly resigned to God's will, 
whether for life or for death, — ' Even so, Father, 
for so it seemeth good unto thee, — if this cup 
may not pass from us except we drink it, thy 
will be done/ It is one thing to say this ; but 
I can tell you now from experience that it is 
quite another to feel — to realize it. Yet we 
feel that ' He doeth all things well." We have 
no petition to make but ' that in patience we 
may possess our souls,' so that God may be 
glorified in all. Afflictions are very personal 
things ; yet it seems to me that you all have a 
share in God's present design. While to us 
He calls in a loud voice — to you He speaks in 
a gentle whisper, that warns you in time to 
prepare to meet Him in eternity. He would 
teach you the uncertainty of life, the certainty 
of death. He would show you the neces- 



HER SICKNESS. 131 

sity there is for trials ; and prove to you the 
ground of a Christian's confidence under them. 
Though for a time they are mysterious, yet 
they are merciful and gracious ; and those 
who are so exercised have no reason to ques- 
tion their interest in God's favor by them. 
Satan is very busy at such a time, taking 
advantage of the occasion to suggest despond- 
ing thoughts. The mind, too, is naturally dis- 
posed then to favor them ; but I assure you, 
that if afflictions are trying to frail nature, 
they are salutary to the soul — they work out 
here the peaceable fruits of righteousness ; and 
it is not long, at furthest, before we shall know 
as we are known, and then see distinctly the 
necessity and benefit of earthly sorrow. The 
praise and honor in which they will end will 
amply make amends for all. Why then should 
we not esteem them precious — inestimable 
favors from on high! If we could always 
realize Eternity, its certainty and its nearness, 
we should more constantly rejoice in them. If 
we could but realize more the holiness of the 
upper world, we should give thanks that we 
are counted worthy of such a preparation for it. 
" How much impatience is natural to us! It 



132 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

would seem that no trial is so small but it 
would overcome us, if left to ourselves. But 
God sends his spirit, remember, to help our in- 
firmities, by leading us to consider not the trial, 
but the end of the trial : finding that in God's 
hand we are lightened of our load : under- 
neath are the everlasting arms ; while not only 
is the natural mind strengthened, but such 
comforting thoughts are suggested to the spir- 
itual, as abundantly fulfils to us his gracious 
declarations. This is the matter of our present 
experience ; may God grant its continuance, 
and deepen it in rich earnest of a joyful 
fruition hereafter, when faith shall be turned 
to sight, and all sorrow and sighing shall flee 
away forever. To-morrow will, probably, be 
somewhat a decisive day ; should it be deemed 
best to operate, we must still longer tax your 
patience for great quiet, till all danger from 
excitement is over. The precious invalid her- 
self dreads nothing, but her physicians and 
friends do. All know that there is no proba- 
bility of her recovery; yet, as with God, all 
things are possible ; we wait his will in the 
result, 'In quietness and confidence is our 
strength/ 



HER SICKNESS. 133 

" Pray for us ; but, oh, above all things, pray 
for yourselves, that now you may ' Remember 
your Creator in the days of your youth, before 
the evil days come, or the years draw nigh, 
when you shall say, I have no pleasure in 
them/ 

" Your friend/ 5 

The preparations of the morning on Mon- 
day did not, in the least, excite her ; the ap- 
proach of the appointed hour even could not 
ruffle her serenity. Faith triumphed over fear, 
so that while she could truly say, " I am such 
a peculiar coward, and, I should think, have 
more than a usual share of dread of suffering 
for myself, and for the sake of the many too 
dear to me — to anticipate an evil, nearly crushes 
me;" she could yet safely add, "Having by 
line upon line in experience found that suffi- 
cient strength is given when the trial comes, 
I think I have a little learned not to think — 
and to put away the dreaded evil with 'What 
time I am afraid I will trust in thee/ ' 

At nine, the doctors assembled. She wel- 
comed them with a smile, and roused herself 
to converse with them. It was considered 

12 



134 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

best to open the abscess. Asking if she had 
any dread, — " Oh no," was the prompt reply. 
Still supposing she must have her share of 
Nature's fears, and judging it prudent to avoid 

the slightest agitation, Dr. S gave her no 

warning. 'Twas but the work of a moment. 
She smiled, as she felt the prick of the lancet, 
and assured them, when they suggested Eau 
de Cologne should be used, it was unnecessary, 
she did not feel at all faint. " Well," said her 
friends, "you have remarkable equanimity of 
mind in your favor." 

Assembled in the Library, they again ex- 
pressed their opinion that she could not re- 
cover, but would gradually sink away ; she 
might not last a week ; she might live for two 
months. Seeing her so cheerful again, and 
apparently relieved, it was very difficult for us 
to keep abiding the conviction, that it must 
indeed be so. 

To promote the discharge of the abscess, she 
was obliged to keep herself, wearied and great- 
ly emaciated as she was, in one very trying po- 
sition, day after day, and all through her sleepless 
nights : yet was she never heard to express 
impatience, or even to groan under her weari- 



HER SICKNESS. 135 

ness. It has been well remarked by one in like 
circumstances, " That bed cannot be wearisome 
which is made by Emanuel : no state can be 
uneasy when his tenderness and power are 
revealed for our support." And truly, we may 
add, that His left hand was beneath our sister's 
head, and His right arm did embrace her. In 
God she had found a substance that would 
bear leaning upon, — just what her worn-out 
body and mind seemed to want — a resting- 
place, a hiding-place. 

With characteristic composure, hearing a 
young friend in her room remark to another, 
how much enjoyment there was in sacred 
music, yet how seldom you heard it in city 
society, — without opening her eyes, she said 
aloud, 

" The Spirit, like a peaceful dove, 
Flies from the realms of noise and strife." 

Day after day passed by — she was still the 
sufferer. The discharge of the abscess had 
afforded, perhaps, a change, but not lessened 
her pain. Medicine after medicine was pre- 
scribed, but without any effect. Her "dis- 



136 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

tress" only seemed to increase with her de- 
bility. Her countenance showed her suffering 
—the lips seldom told it. " Sickness is such a 
personal thing," she would say, as excusing 
herself from ever referring to it in her case. 
She was always " better," or " pretty well," — 
never a murmur heard, never a wish expressed. 

" Sweet to lie passive in His hands 
And know no will but His," 

was most strikingly characteristic of her pa- 
tient spirit to the last — lovely, because those 
who knew her situation in life, her prospects, 
her usefulness, her activity, knew the great 
sacrifice of every natural feeling made in this 
entire submission. 

The effects of the abscess having entirely 
passed away about the first week in May, she 
was able to rise, to be dressed loosely, and to 
sit in an easy chair, or lie on a sofa. Spring 
was fast opening upon us, with its bursting 
buds and rejoicing birds, displaying God's 
glory in the resurrection of Nature ; while 
every leaflet and flower seemed but to say 

" The finger of God is here," 



HER SICKNESS. 137 

bearing testimony, in its sure return, to all 
his faithfulness and long-suffering towards us. 
A young friend from the city visited us at 
this time. Looking out upon the lawn, she 
noticed its refreshing verdure, when she heard 
the gentle voice of our sister exclaim — 

" Sweet fields beyond the swelling flood 
Stand drest in living green." 

This manner of appropriate quotation with- 
out any comment, was peculiar to our sister 
even in health. She may be said to have been 
full of poetry. The christian poets, Cowper 
and Watts, Milton and Young, were her favo- 
rites ; having industriously gathered from them 
their sweets, she was ready, on the most ordi- 
nary occasions, to apply them. Did we stop 
to admire a view, did we point to the fleeting 
cloud above us, — each touched a chord in her 
sympathies, and awakened a responsive poetic 
sentiment. Observing the gardener busy plant- 
ing his seeds, and glancing forward, in thought, 
to the far more glorious spring about to bloom 
upon her soul, she remarked, "I have been 
thinking I shall never see those flowers bloom ; 

12* 



138 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

but it does not mar my pleasure now in watch- 
ing them, 

"There everlasting spring abides, 
And never with'ring flowers." 

Thus calmly could this young sister contem- 
plate the great change that awaited her ; thus 
clearly could she realize the eternal realities 
of another world. Were not " all things hers," 
whether for life or death ? 

From this time through the remaining few 
weeks of her life, the state of her soul consisted 
rather in a quiet confidence, than in a lively 
joy. There were no raptures, no frames, no 
feelings to tell of, — only increasing helpless- 
ness and emptiness — heart and flesh failing, — 
which made her willing to bid adieu to time, 
and all its pursuits, and to go on in the strength 
of her Saviour to the unseen world. 

" Earthly joys no more attracting, 

Half the Christian's conflicts cease; 
Earthly lights no more attracting, 

Thou may'st trim thy lamp in peace." 

As the weather became settled, she was per- 
mitted to ride — a pleasure she never ceased to 
enjoy, till within three days of her death. In 



HER SICKNESS. 139 

all those rides, her unselfish spirit gratified 
itself in thinking of others ; a flower for the 
Botany class ; tulips for a sister's fancy work ; 
a new flower for the garden,— thus did she be- 
guile the way, and drop comfort for us all in 
review. 

Riding alone with her brother on the after- 
noon of Friday, three weeks before her death, 
he spoke with her freely of her danger, alluded 
to his great anxiety for her during -their visit 
South, and the doubt whether he should ever 
reach home with her alive. " I knew it," she 
replied, " I realized it all — the dropsical swel- 
ling of my foot warned me — but I said nothing, 
lest I should alarm dear R., who was already 
much distressed for me." They then spoke of 
afflictions in general — the object God had in 
view in appointing them — sometimes for cor- 
rection, at others for prevention ; now to test, 
and again to instruct, — always for God's glory. 
Her brother noticed theproneness to think them 
all chastisements — -just punishments. " This," 
she replied, " is indeed a very common view, 
and, perhaps, the one most generally adopted 
when the body is weak ; for it is then apt to 
take a gloomy view of things in general, and 



140 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

is easily persuaded to believe that all it suffers 
is on account of special sins, and is really the 
just visitation for them — a righteous retribution. 
But," she added, " I am inclined to think it 
readily yields before returning strength, re- 
newed vigor, and brightening hope. Of one 
thing I am very sure, my brother ; sickness is 
no time for the all-important concerns of the 
soul to be first thought of; there never was a 
greater delusion than that ; you feel quite too 
sick, too naturally desponding. I believe it is 
the great anxiety and the fear awakened then 
in the unconverted mind, which really kill 
hundreds — preventing medicine from having 
its proper effects, at a time when, for life's 
sake, all should be quiet, composed and happy 
— entertaining a spirit of true Christian resig- 
nation to God's will and time." 

He spoke then of life — the mere fact of 
living — how little there was worth the living 
for. We get into a habit of talking of the 
pleasures of life ; but, oh ! how poor, how un- 
satisfactory, and how fleeting they all are. 
" Yes, indeed," she replied, " it is strange to 
me, very strange, that people, even professing 
Christians, can live as they do." The only 



HER SICKNESS. 141 

real pleasure was then dwelt upon — that of 
doing good ; of being used as an instrument 
in God's hand to promote his glory upon 
earth. She concurred in censuring the opin- 
ion of the world, that it is hard and very 
sad to see a young person carried off by 
death. Though the aged have lived long enough 
to feel all the bitter disappointments of earth, 
and to test its utter inability to satisfy the 
cravings of the soul, so that we naturally ex- 
pect it, and they are in a measure willing to 
leave us ; yet, even to the young Christian, full 
of hope and bright anticipations, is it not gain 
to die ? For does not death save them from 
earth's chilling influences and withering morti- 
fications ? Does not their hope receive an 
early fruition ? Are not their bright anticipa- 
tions sooner and more surely realized in a 
world where neither sin nor sorrow can enter ? 
Are not such rather to be envied ? 

She said she had been led to consider much, 
of late, the Apostle's words, " Know ye not 
that ye are the temples of the Holy Ghost ?" 
" What an honor," she further remarked, " that 
such poor frail and defiled bodies should be so 
used!" asking her brother whether he had 



142 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

observed how strong the advice which fol- 
lowed, " That Christians should live as became 
such temples — purifying themselves, and ab- 
staining from all evil, even the very appearance 
of evil." 

When asked what she thought of her case, 
whether she entertained any prospect of re- 
covery, she replied with the most perfect com- 
posure, " Really, I hardly know what to say. 
I suppose I may get well ; but it must be very 
doubtful. When I left the South, and, indeed, 
since my return home, I have had no hope — in 
fact, I have been weary of life, but this I fear 
is an improper feeling ; I ought always to be 
willing to wait God's time, — I do struggle 
against it." Her brother then told her the 
physicians had given up all hope, that they had 
declined prescribing further, and only desired 
that she should eat and drink as she was able, 
and do anything that ministered to her com- 
fort : that none could say but that there was 
a possibility, because with God all things are 
possible ; but humanly speaking there was no 
probability that she could recover ; and it was 
considered best that she should know it. She 
replied, she was quite . prepared to hear it, for 



HER SICKNESS. 143 

she herself had long thought it improbable; 
assured her brother she had not a fear in the 
prospect. She was told that we were all pre- 
paring ourselves for the trial of separation — that 
hitherto God had most wonderfully supported 
us, especially our parents, hearing and answer- 
ing our daily prayers, for resignation to His 
will concerning her ; that so much mercy had 
been mingled with the bitter cup that we dared 
not repine ; as our day, so our strength had 
truly been ; our greatest comfort being drawn 
from the conviction that she had so long before 
made preparation for a dying hour, that now 
we had but to wait, and waiting, could strive 
together only to glorify God in the fires. The 
ways in which God could be glorified, were 
then pointed out, particularly by a free expres- 
sion of the thoughts. Conversation would 
comfort us — as assuring us of her peace and 
joy in believing; not that we had any doubt as 
to her hope, but we needed strength through 
her consolations. The martyr-like spirit which 
yields to fate, was referred to, as so distinct 
from, and inferior to, the true christian spirit 
of resignation — "Father, if it be possible," 
" Nevertheless, not my will but thine be done." 



144 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

This proves the reality and the power there is 
in true religion ; this teaches the minister how 
to preach; this encourages the aged Christian; 
and this it is that establishes the young be- 
liever. 

Returning home very cheerful, she was as 
usual laid upon the bed — hoping to sleep — but 
no: finding herself alone with a sister, she 
directly referred to the kindness of telling her 
so candidly the opinion of the medical men ; 
again repeated she was quite prepared to ex- 
pect it. To the remark, that no one seemed 
quite to understand her case, she replied, " It 
seems to be a complicated and rather mys- 
terious one ; but could you wish that I should 
go through all this suffering again ?" 

" Cease here longer to detain me." 

When her youngest sister was afterwards fan- 
ning her burning cheek, she said gently, " You 
will not have to do this long, dearie/' " Well, 
dearest one, in that place of rest you will not 
need it." " No," she answered, " there will 
be no pain there ; but still it is an awful thing 
to die." It was not that our sister feared the 



HER SICKNESS. 145 

suffering of the body, but she dreaded a spirit- 
ual conflict, as will be hereafter seen. 

Left alone with her nurse for awhile in the 
evening, she spoke much of death. Being 
asked, " Miss Abby, have you no fear of 
death?" She promptly replied, "Oh no, G., 
no fears now— I used to dread it ; it has not 
ahvays been day with me as now." The case 
of a young person was alluded to, w r ho had 
died so triumphantly; she simply exclaimed, 
as thinking aloud, 

" Oh glorious hour ! Oh blest abode ! 

I shall be near and like my God." 
* And every power find sweet employ 

In that eternal world of joy." 

When we see so many, even of the children 
of God, shrinking from everything which 
appears like the key to open our prison, what 
rich grace was that which thus rid our sister 
of all her fears, and gave her to trust and not 
be afraid. 

While being rubbed, as usual, the next 
morning, by her sister S., their conversation 
happened to turn upon those who think it their 
duty to preach only to the elect. " Ah !" she 

13 



146 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

said, as smiling she reproached their igno- 
rance, " how beautifully will all these things be 
revealed to us when we enter heaven \" This 
led them on to consider the progression of 
knowledge in heaven — how, in younger days, 
they had thought all would burst upon the 
astonished soul at once. " It was reading that 
work of Dick's, the Philosophy of a Future 
State, which disturbed me," she said. "He 
puts the subject before the mind in so singular, 
so startling a manner. I rather like/' she 
added, " to look at spiritual things spiritually, 
not to bring them down to our temporal ones. 
Do you remember, dear, he speaks of arith- 
metic in heaven ? Oh ! I do not like it." The 
pleasures of heaven became their theme. They 
thought of their honored grandfather, waiting 
at the eleventh hour of a long and laborious 
day for bis summons, — " Well done, good and 
faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy 
Lord :" and, as they thought upon the glory 
that was prepared for him, they envied the 
privilege of entering then. "Yes, indeed," our 
sister exclaimed, " I should love to witness his 
devout adoration and gratitude, his holy joy, 



HER SICKNESS. 147 

as he first sees face to face his Lord and Mas- 
ter ; and so enjoy it with him." 

Her sister-in-law called during the morning, 
and had a pleasant interview with her. She 
spoke with unusual earnestness. Referring to 
death-bed repentance, she remarked, " I have 
not the satisfaction of looking back to a partic- 
ular time when I experienced a decided change 
of heart ; it was my highly privileged educa- 
tion I suppose ; for I never remember the time 
when I did not love God, and desire above all 
things to be conformed to his will." Again 
speaking to her, as enviable in going home 
first, and never knowing the sorrow of an 
earthly separation, "Yes," she replied, " but," — 
she would not live alway ; in itself she saw not, 
she felt not, one attraction to life — " but" — as a 
stage where she could perform a part for her 
Saviour, even a part which angels had never 
committed to them, she valued it; as a 
field where a battle is fought for the great 
Captain of our salvation, she would not be 
impatient to leave it — " but — it is pleasant to 
work for God here, and I have done nothing yet 
for Him." Her sister-in-law remarks, " Her 
manner was simple and open — her smile, the 



148 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

while, constant and unrestrained. She ap- 
peared perfectly happy, joyous almost, at mo- 
ments, as if her wings were ready plumed for 
their flight beyond. When next I saw her, 
calmness and composure had settled upon her 
again — she had returned to her attitude of 
waiting." 

For a while our sister seemed to improve. 
She rode out often twice a day, walked about 
her room, worked occasionally, and joined us in 
our plans. Yet this partial recovery did not 
at all flatter her. When fond affection, that 
will cling to the creature, would say, delighted, 
" You seem to be better — who can tell but with 
the blessing of God all may yet be well ?" she 
would scarcely smile ; and afterwards, referring 
to the remark, would say, almost reprovingly, 
" How can Mamma flatter herself so ? Would 
you really wish me to remain in a world so full 
of sin and sorrow, rather than to depart and be 
with Christ — which is far better ?" She was 
repeatedly asking, after the visit of her doctors, 
" Did they give Mamma any hope ?" as though 
she only wanted now the assurance that we 
had all resigned her willingly and cheerfully. 

During all this time we need make but one 



HER SICKNESS. 149 

general remark of her nights — they were en- 
tirely sleepless and much distressed ; her cough 
being then increasingly troublesome. Sup- 
ported by many pillows — eleven at last — she 
can scarcely be said to have lain down for 
weeks ; yet was she never known to mur- 
mur ; nor would she, if possible to prevent it, 
even disturb one of her sisters, who by turns 
rested in the room with her, till the day began 
to dawn. Then the feeling of grateful relief 
was irresistible : the blinds must be raised 
that the faintest streaks on the horizon might 
refresh her weary eyes ; then listening with 
great delight to the first notes of the birds, par- 
ticularly pleased with a robin, which seemed to 
keep its friendly station at her very window, 
she would fall exhausted into a gentle sleep. It 
is not to be wondered at, that, after such nights, 
her days should be passed in rest rather than in 
effort — in quiet rather than in much speaking. 
Her extract proves her right principle, and 
fully justifies the practice, "You must have 
thought me idle, or something worse ; and yet 
you do not reproach me. Well ! I am used to 
this from everybody but myself ; we have sad 
quarrels, and frequently cannot settle it without 

13* 



150 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

many tears. If you have known what it is to 
pass night after night, wondering what sleep is 
like, and thinking each hour double the length 
of its predecessor, yet all this without any 
positive pain, you have known what it is to 
get worn, as I, alas ! am. Nature has writhed 
and smarted under it ; but, oh ! the wine and 
oil the Spirit has poured in by these few words, 
4 Wearisome nights are appointed unto me/ — 
just wearisome, and this from my Father, and 
above all, appointed — no chance ," 

From the time she rose and was dressed, 
she generally lay on her sofa till the hour for 
riding should arrive, either reading herself her 
favorite portion of Scripture — the Psalms ; or, 
when too weak to hold the book, listening to 
a sister's choice from the "Bible/' "Cecil's 
Original Thoughts," and always her grand- 
father's " Morning Exercise." 

In riding again with her brother, they con- 
versed long on the inestimable value of the 
Scriptures — whether to those who labored, or 
were in difficulty — whether to such as were 
tempted or afflicted ; its promises were ever 
ready to support and to strengthen them — and, 
above all, to the dying soul how T precious ! 



HER SICKNESS. 151 

Unlike all other books, it seems to become a 
very part of the Christian, by reason of his 
confidence in God, who cannot lie, and who 
will not be unmindful of his promises. She 
was reminded of David's experience, " Unless 
thy law had been my delight, I should have 
perished in my affliction/' " Yes," she re- 
plied, " but there is another sweet verse, ' Re- 
member thy word unto thy servant upon which 
thou hast caused me to hope/ and another, 
' This is my comfort in my affliction, for thy 
word hath quickened me/ No one/' she said, 
" could accuse David of being a silent chris- 
tian : his tongue hardly knew any control ; for 
out of the abundance of the heart his mouth 
spoke/' " There is something so peculiarly 
beautiful to me," she said, " in his 119th Psalm ; 
I feel as though I could never leave off, in 
reading it; the verses seem to run into and 
out of one another in such close connection." 

She had a keen sympathy for others ; their 
sufferings were made her own ; for as the elect 
of God, holy and beloved, she had put on 
bowels of mercies, kindness ; while she longed 
to impart to them the heavenly consolations 
wherewith she herself was comforted. " Has 



152 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

any one been to see Fowler to-day ? he has 
said, if prepared, he would wish to die." This 
anxiety showed her own peace and satisfac- 
tion in anticipating death ; it proved, that, up 
to that time, she had found all her comfort in 
a preparation of the heart — in having set her 
face toward the celestial city — in feeling that 
she drew near to the river of Death. So that 
to die — the desire to die — to be prepared to 
die, was the best wish she could frame for her 
humble sick friend. 

At one time she remarked to her sister S., 
who was sitting at her side, " I never thought 
I should recover, from the first of my illness. " 
" Well, dear," her sister replied, " we do not 
know yet what may be God's will concerning 
you ! Oh how sweet it would be could we all 
lie down together, would it not ?" " Yes, in- 
deed," she answered, "but one must be first." 
Then, till interrupted, heaven was their theme. 
f Rest — I long for rest ; but I am afraid this is 
a temptation ; I think too much of the rest that 
remaineth." How could this be otherwise ? 
When enduring day after day such severe par- 
oxysms of pain that the tears were forced from 
her eyes, — did she toss ? did she even groan ? 



HER SICKNESS, 153 

Oh no; but with her eyes closed, and her 
burning cheek resting on her pillow, she would 
only exclaim, 

" There is an hour of peaceful rest 1" 

Could this be wrong? With such abundant 
proof of a hope well founded on Him who is 
invisible, this glorious prospect not only sup- 
ported her, but raised her spirits triumphant 
over her bodily pains, which she had so long, 
with such remarkable fortitude and patience, 
endured. 

Everything God had done was gently 
done. She continually used the expression. 
And when we see Him teaching his eaglet to 
leave the nest, bearing it on his own wings, 
teaching it to mount upwards and build its 
nest on high, yea, on the very throne itself, 
must we not indeed exclaim, ' His gentleness 
hath made her great V On one night in par- 
ticular, as her sister laid her in bed, she said, 
" When I think of God's dealings towards me, 
I can never say he has smitten me, nor that he 
has cut me down. No ; his own words best 
express his gentleness, ' He hath laid his hand 
upon me/ Yes, He has beset me behind, and 



154 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

before, and now He has laid his hand upon 
me, referring to her entire weakness. Oh! 
He has dealt so gently with me ; it is most 
wonderful to me how strength has been given 
equal to my day. If there was anything I 
should have thought I could not bear, it would 
have been dropsy and the loss of the use of my 
limbs : both have been permitted to come upon 
me ; and yet strength is given equal to my 
day." After an interval, her sister remarked, 
"If the saints above could see all that is passing 
here," — she quickly interrupted her with, "I 
never could doubt for a moment that they do ; 
think how it must add to their ascriptions of 
praise, to witness all God's workings with his 
people here ! Yes, you may depend uuon it, 
those of our family who are now in heaven are 
looking on in wondering admiration at God's 
gentle dealing with me — with all of you!' 

When asked, about this time, by a friend, 
whether she had any fear of death, she replied, 
"No — I only fear lest an assault of spiritual 
darkness should be permitted at that trying 
hour to shake my faith. The best Christians 
have sometimes suffered then a sense of deser- 
tion — a loss of communion." But "as thv 



HER SICKNESS. 155 

day so shall thy strength be," was here, as 
elsewhere, the staff of her Shepherd, that sup- 
ported her. With such a sense of her own 
weakness, not fostering any false courage, 
not vainly concealing the truth, but deliberately 
counting upon the " all things" that might 
befall her, we have no doubt she prayed daily 
with all supplication, " Suffer me not, at my 
last hour, for any pains of death, to fall from 
thee." To his faithfulness as a prayer-hearing 
and answering God, and to her triumph, 
through his strength, over all her fears, let her 
dying hour testify. 

A little incident will serve to illustrate the 
scrupulosity of principle for which she was 
remarkable, and the high tone of the example 
she always considered it necessary to set to 
servants. A little delicacy had been prepared 
for her dinner on Sunday — hoping to tempt 
her appetite. On the servant asking her, " if 
she had enjoyed it ?" " How could 1" she 
replied, " when I knew that it had occasioned 
trouble on the Sabbath." 

May 25th. — The weather becoming warm, 
and thinking she might perhaps be able* to walk 
a little on the piazza, or in the garden, a 



156 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

delightful room was prepared for her, down 
stairs. Its windows to the ground opened on 
the piazza and garden. She had but to step 
out on level ground ; and the door opening on 
the green-house, while she sat or lay on her 
sofa, she could enjoy the luxury of flowers in 
profusion. The room was large, the garden 
was lovely, all nature smiled around ; but our 
sister was a fading flower amidst this luxuriance 
of health and beauty. Shall we suppose for one 
moment that there was any mistake in this ? 
Could not He who made the flowers flourish 
about her, have put vigor, too, into her feeble 
frame ? Yes, surely ; but it was for his glory 
that she should be weak and crumbling ; there- 
fore did her inner man with sweet and cheerful 
resignation say, " Most gladly, therefore, will 
I glory in my infirmities, that the power of 
Christ may rest upon me," — "Even so, Father, 
for so it seemeth good unto thee." " Thank 
you, thank you," she said as she was brought 
into the room, " but I shall not want it long, 
dears." Just three w r eeks were passed in this 
pleasant spot. We have been richly rewarded 
in the comfort it gave to one so much beloved. 
Once only did she try to walk on the piazza ; but 



HER SICKNESS. 157 

her strength was gone — she waited patiently 
till she should walk with the redeemed, free 
from pain and ever)- weakness. Unable to 
read, write, or converse, when she could but 
change her lying posture from the bed to the 
sofa for refreshment yet He gave her a sweet 
peace, an unruffled state of soul — " In quietness 
and confidence was her strength/ 5 — proving 
clearly that the happiness of the Christian 
consists in meeting God in his providences. 
Regretting through her excessive weakness the 
difficulty of retaining, or of recalling the well- 
known verses of Scripture, she said, " Ah, 
well ! whatever else I may want, that precious 
verse is ever with me, ' The work of right- 
eousness shall be peace ; and the effect of right- 
eousness, quietness and assurance forever P ? 

A servant met with a severe accident which 
had endangered her life, without a moment's 
warning. The occasion must not be lost. 
Hearing her voice in the hall the next day, she 
was called into her room, and, after kind in- 
quiries, was faithfully reminded of the un- 
certainty of life. " Though I have been so 
long expected to die, yet you in perfect health 
had nearly passed me on the road. 'In the 

14 



158 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

midst of life we are in death/ and surely ought 
always to be prepared to meet our God/' 

But though to her anxious friends our dear 
sister seemed long to have suffered — though 
her summons appeared to have been delayed, 
yet now had the Master already risen up, and 
was calling for her. In a few days she stepped 
from the shores of time into the great ocean of 
eternity — there to bathe her weary soul in a 
sea of unending bliss. 

It has been said, u Sickness instead of nar- 
rowing the Christian's heart, enlarges it." 
Though so sunk in weakness as to speak 
seldom, she inquired constantly after a young 
friend who was thought to be in a somewhat 
critical state. " Oh, how I wish he had the 
comforts I enjoy in my firm hope ; oh ! that 
every one possessed them !" 

On Tuesday the 5th of June, the week pre- 
ceding her death, a circumstance of interest 
occurred as a singular coincidence, impressing 
the christian mind with the doctrine of a 
particular Providence, which condescends 
even to number the very hairs of our head. 

Acting upon the advice of her physicians, 
that she should test her strength by slight 



HER SICKNESS. 159 

exertions, being left, at her own request, 
during the hour of our family worship, alone, 
she had ventured to the open window, and at- 
tempted to throw something from it ; but her 
weakness prevailed; she felt herself sinking, 
and gently descended to the ground. Calling 
for assistance, she was providentially heard by 
one passing at the moment, raised and laid upon 
the bed as very faint. In reading the Morning 
Exercise to her as she lay, it was not a little 
singular that the text should be, " Be thou our 
arm every morning." " You see," she said 
smilingly, " He had need to be my arm every 
morning ; He surely was this morning." She 
then went through the divisions of the exercise, 
as though thinking aloud, — " for defence," " for 
support," and, with peculiar emphasis, " to lean 
upon, in all his goings." Her sister then al- 
luded to the Christian's privilege, thus to lean, 
in prayer, " be thou our arm every morning ;" 
and taking up the application of the subject, said, 
" ' Let me lean," — " and converse with thee," 
she responded emphatically. u * Let me lean/ — 
and feel thee at my side," she replied again. 
" ' Let me lean/ — and go forward without dis- 
may or discouragement," she yet added. Thus 



160 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

was a venerable but far distant grandfather 
enabled, through the Spirit, to minister strength 
and consolation to his dying child. 

A friend who had lately returned from 
Jerusalem visited us this week ; bringing with 
him many paintings of the various interesting 
scenes in Palestine. He kindly offered to show 
them to our sister in her room ; she was much 
pleased and interested, particularly in the 
Garden of Gethsemane. It was not nature 
alone that struck her — calm and lovely though 
it was ; but deep feeling stirred her very soul 
within her, as she contemplated " Jesus" 
bowed down beneath our load of sin, — 

" Triumphant in sorrow, triumphant in love 1" 

through the merits of his righteousness en- 
abling her to appropriate to herself in her 
present hour of need, faith's privileged ex- 
perience — 

" From whose anguish 
All my ease and safety flow." 

How little did we think, then, that while 
sitting up thus to gaze upon the earthly Jeru- 
salem, before another week had passed she 



HER SICKNESS. 161 

would be ivalking with the Redeemed in the 

heavenly city ; where there shall enter nothing 

that defileth — but they which are written in the 

Lamb's book of life ! 

14* 



CHAPTER VI. 

?^er HBeatfc. 



u Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will 
fear no evil, for thou art with me." — Psalm xxiii. 4. 

" The Angel of the Covenant 
Was come, and faithful to his promise, stood 
Prepared to walk with her through death's dark vale. 
And now her eyes grew bright, and brighter still, 
Too bright for ours to look upon, suffused 
With many tears; and closed without a cloud. 
They set as sets the morning star, which goes 
Not down behind the darken'd west, nor hides 
Obscured among the tempests of the sky — 
But melts away into the light of heaven." Pollok. 



It was made evident to us all, from the 
Sabbath which followed, June 10th, that her 
strength was fast failing : indeed it could not 
be otherwise ; for the cough became so very 
distressing, that it, alone, threatened to wear 
her out. When the paroxysm had ceased, 
then she was exhausted. Still she murmured 
not, nor even expressed her weariness ; con- 
tinued to be dressed, and to ride out as usual 
through Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. 
On the morning of this day, the 13th, she 



HER DEATH. 163 

began to copy a French sermon of Oberlin's, 
which had been loaned her father. She wrote 
but half the page — interest flagged from ex- 
cessive weakness — the tardy medium of the 
pen and language were laid aside, forever, for 
the more enlarged sphere of knowledge and of 
ability in the world of spirit — of mind, with- 
out a veil between, — of thought unshackled, free 
as air. In the afternoon she suffered much; 
asked to ride ; but did not find relief as she had 
generally done. Though so ill, she rode fur- 
ther than usual ; indeed, did not herself ask 
to turn. She was taking her last look of earth ! 
Through the evening it was very painful to 
witness her great bodily distress as she leaned 
on the arm of her easy chair. Still all was 
quiet. She had spoken very little since the 
Sabbath — to complain she would not, and to 
converse she could not, from complete ex- 
haustion. 

After such a day of suffering, when laid 
once more in bed, she called an elder sister to 
her side, and meekly said to her, " Dear, forgive 
me!" "Forgive you, my darling V she re- 
plied, astonished, "what for?" "For all my 
impatience. " Her sister, deeply affected, ex- 



164 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

claimed, " I am sure God has shown his power 
in you most remarkably in keeping you from 
impatience ; but if you think you have given 
way to it, ' He knows your frame, He re- 
members that you are but dust/ " " Yes," she 
replied, " He does," and then, " / am worn out, 
dear.^ This proved very true ; for in two 
hours after, she began to sink, from exhaustion 
after coughing when too feeble to expectorate. 
By one o'clock we were all gathered around 
her bed, expecting each hour would prove her 
last. In silent prayer we commended each 
other into the keeping of our covenant God. 
He w 7 hispered " Peace" as He passed by us in 
his providence, and left us an unruffled state 
of soul — in quietness and in confidence we felt 
was our strength. It was suggested by the 
physician, that, in case her distress increased, 
or spasms should come on, we should try ano- 
dynes ; but knowing her susceptibility and keen 
relish for poetry, and her exalted love and ad- 
miration of Scripture, we preferred to soothe 
her mentally, by quoting passages and hymns 
appropriate to the dying bed. They had a 
delightful effect. The name of Jesus fell like 



HER DEATH. 165 

music on her ear ; she showed evident pleas 
ure, though she was too low to speak. 

From this time forward, we were enabled so 
to command our feeling as to be able, by divine 
strength imparted, to sustain her through the 
conflict with the last enemy : which conflict 
had yet to last beyond all calculation, through 
two days and nights more. The supports 
which were granted us in this hour must have 
been peculiarly grateful to our dear sister; 
as we learn from a wish she had long before 
expressed in simple verse — 

" Weep not ! m y friends, when Death shall come 
The chariot to bear me home, — 
Weep not ! your tears my wings oppress, 
And keep me from the courts of bliss. 

So flutters on its homeward road 
The bird — when from her little brood 
Sad cries and mournings reach her ear, 
She stops — but cannot linger there. 

If sighs and tears are only given 
To ease the heart by sorrow riven — 
Then this is not a time to weep, 
When as the babe we sink to sleep. 

Yet, oh ! if you must shed a tear, 
Wait till I am no longer here ; 



166 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

'Tis but a small behest I crave — 
Oh ! let it fall upon my grave." 

With morning light, as usual, came relief; 
but it only showed us more clearly what death 
had done. An appearance and expression that 
could not be mistaken was on her countenance ; 
but it could not mar her peace. Thinking 
once he observed her open her eyes, her 
father said, " My dearest, the Lord is with you 
and with us ;" before he could add more, she 
turned to him with an earnest look, and one 
of the sweetest smiles, and said, " He has never 
left me." Her father replied, " You are in his 
gracious hands, and rest upon the very bosom 
of his love/ 5 — still smiling, she nodded the 
assent she could not speak. But those words 
that had already fallen from her lips ! how 
precious ! Surely they were more to us than 
all the jewels of a queenly crown ! 

Detained through the day, by painful sus- 
pense, from our family duties, we were anxious 
for the young people who dwelt amongst us. 
A line was sent them in the evening from the 
sick chamber to explain our absence, and to 
direct their minds to the great lesson God in 
his providence was teaching us all. 



HER DEATH. 167 

" My dear children, 

" In the midst of our great 
trouble, do not suppose you are forgotten or 
unobserved. The patience we are called upon 
to exercise is rendered doubly trying on your 
account. 

" Throughout the past night, each moment was 
supposed to be the last; yet she lives. To-day 
she has surprisingly rallied, seems not to suffer, 
appears perfectly conscious and fully aware 
of her situation ; yet all is peace, the most 
perfect peace. Her chamber is the gate of 
heaven ; it is good, indeed, to be there. She 
speaks only in a low w 7 hisper; yet bears a 
noble testimony to the faithfulness of her God 
— "He has never left me." Her spirit seems 
to be pluming its wings for its everlasting 
flight. A coughing fit it is supposed would 
rend asunder the soul and body ; but we rather 
think she has already sunk into so sweet a 
slumber, as that she will scarcely again be 
harassed. 

" Asleep in Jesus ! Oh how sweet 
To be for such a slumber meet /" 

" May God give you grace at once to per- 



168 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

pare, so to follow her in the example she has 
ever set you, that you may close your eyes on 
all things earthly with as sure and certain a 
hope of rising to life eternal. 

" Your friend." 

As was to be expected, she slept through all 
the day, with short intervals only of con- 
sciousness, till about four in the afternoon, 
when she was able to converse; and, shortly, 
asked her father to read to her, and comment 
on, some portion of Scripture. The seventy- 
first Psalm was opened upon ; she lay in quiet 
enjoyment through it all, sweetly assenting to 
its blessed truths ; and then requested prayer. 
A weeping circle kneeled around her— a 
father, mother, and eleven children were for the 
first time called upon to commend a departing 
child and sister to the care of a covenant- 
keeping God. While anguish rent their hearts 
till feeling well nigh choked utterance, in view 
of the approach of the king of terrors thus to 
break their family circle and snatch the fairest, 
the sweetest, and almost the youngest from 
their midst, the soul itself, who saw in death 
only "-the angel, the messenger of peace, 



HER DEATH. 169 

mercy, love, and glory," approaching to open 
her " prison door, that out of it she might pass 
into a world of light/ 3 was perfectly calm, ab- 
sorbed as it were in love, praise, and blissful 
adoration. How could she grieve, indeed, who 
was so soon to be presented before the throne of 
God in his likeness, without spot, or wrinkle, or 
any such thing. To her, death w r as life. She 
was " being born out of sinfulness, darkness, and 
wretchedness, into purity, light, and happiness." 
To her there w T ould be no terror, for she w r as 
but going home ; and the soul was already 
pressing into the glory to which death was so 
soon to introduce her. As we rose from 
prayer, she took her father's hand, raised it 
to her lips, kissed it, then gently laid it down. 

Through the evening she lay very quiet — 
enduring, as seeing him who is invisible. 
Yet, though to the eye of a friend she was 
so apparently comfortable, secretly rejoicing 
in the exceeding great and eternal weight of 
glory about to be revealed, yet it was the mind 
that so triumphed in the prospect as to cast 
every bodily suffering into the shade. This is 
proved by the fact, that, at this very time she 
said to her sister, " Dear, I shall not live till 

15 



170 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

morning, I think." " Why not, dearest ?" "Be- 
cause/' she replied, "my breathing is so hard." 
All were surprised ; they had thought her so 
easy and comfortable. Through the rest of 
the evening she said nothing ; we all thought it 
best to rest in anticipation of the usual coughing 
fit at twelve. Too surely with the hour came its 
trial ; but through mercy much relief was grant- 
ed. One of her devoted brothers, from his knowl- 
edge of medicine, was able to soothe her much 
with palliatives his own hand prepared ; still she 
coughed much ; but as she was able to expec- 
torate, it was seen that the crisis had not yet 
come. She was greatly exhausted, as hour 
after hour the frail body was racked with this 
distressing cough. Her strength seemed to 
fail her with her labored breath ; yet all was en- 
dured w T ith such trust in God, and such sweet 
resignation to his will, that it gave Death, as 
the king of terrors, no advantage. Friends— 
though all collected round the bed — what 
could they do ? The strongest affection, though 
it be stronger than death, felt its weakness, 
But Christ was there — her Beloved was near! 
To her He whispered peace ; while He ani* 
mated, by his Spirit, surrounding friends to 



HER DEATH. 171 

encourage the departing soul with blessed gospel 
truths and precious verses, which they were 
continually repeating to her. These strength- 
ened her hands ; they warmed her heart ; they 
brought her " into a very near, deep, and 
blissful communion with God ;" so that behold- 
ing in them, " as in a glass, the glory of the 
Lord," her soul was hourly changed more and 
more into the same image. " The Spirit of 
Adoption was breathed over her soul ;" she 
walked with Jesus in these delightful pastures 
of the Land of Beulah ; and evidently " talked 
with him as Moses and Elias did on the mount 
of transfiguration." 

Finding the delight she took in hymns, and 
that her favorite had not suggested itself to 
another, her sister-in-law bending over her, 
whispered — 

" Ye angels who stand round the throne 

And view my Emanuel's face, 
In rapturous songs make him known, 

Tune, tune your soft harps to his praise. 
He fornxd you the spirits you are, 

So happy, so noble, so good ; 
When others sunk down in despair, 

Confirm'd by his power ye stood. 



172 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

Ye saints who stand nearer than they, 

And cast your bright crowns at his feet, 
His grace and his glory display, 

And all his rich mercy repeat. 
He snatch' d you from hell and the grave, 

He ransom'd from death and despair ; 
For you He was mighty to save — 

Almighty to bring you safe there. 

when will the period appear, 
When I shall unite in your song ? 

I'm weary of lingering here — 

And I to your Saviour belong. 
I'm fetter' d and chain' d up in clay, 

I struggle and pant to be free. 

1 long to be soaring away, 

My God and my Saviour to see ! 

I want to put on my attire, 

Wash'd white in the blood of the Lamb ; 
I want to be one of your choir, 

And tune my sweet harp to his name. 
I want — I want to be there, 

Where sorrow an$ sin bid adieu ; 
Your joy and your friendship to share — 

To wonder and worship with you !" 

The emphasis of the last stanza was in- 
describable — it touched the soul addressed : 
she threw up her almost unmanageable arms 



HER DEATH. 173 

around the neck of this dear sister-in-law, and 
kissed her. Never did she show such ecstacy 
throughout her sickness. 

Towards morning she began to find relief 
from bodily suffering; she was evidently re- 
viving again. We raised the blinds and 
showed her the day breaking — " There, dear- 
est, there is the light you have always loved." 
But her eye had seen in the Dark Valley a 
brighter light that shone from the world above ; 
she could not bear thus to be called back to 
earth. Impatience tempted her; she raised 
her arms, and threw them down, saying, " Why 
won't He come ?" She ' was reminded that 
her times were in his hands ; and quickly 
soothed with the assurance, that, though his 
chariot wheels seemed long in coming, yet his 
love and his mercy sustained her, while He yet 
sat as " a Refiner, removing the dross, and 
watching for his own image" in her, the dear 
child of his adoption ; or while, as the Divine 
Builder, with his graving tools, disease and 
pain, " He gave symmetry and a perfect polish 
to the living stone about to be set in his temple 
above." 

From this time through all the morning, she 

18* 



174 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

seemed to be dozing — rallying herself after the 
exertions and excitement of the past night. 

About noon, supposing her still asleep, her 
sister, who was fanning her, remarked to a 
friend standing by, " Abby lately said, ' He 
has laid his hand upon me ; and surely she 
might now add — it is underneath her — that 
His arm doth embrace her/' She heard it, 
and promptly replied, " Indeed it is — under- 
neath and around; and so gently too." Her 
sister said, " That is why you find it so sweet 
to lie passive in His hands and know no will 
but His!" "Yes," she answered — "is there 
not a verse that says, 'They also serve, who 
only stand and wait.' ' This led to conversa- 
tion on the different ways in which God is 
pleased to employ us — evidently this was His 
chosen way for her — truly had He thus far 
gloried himself in her. Being naturally led to 
dwell upon the glories that were awaiting her, 
our friend repeated that beautiful and appro- 
priate hymn : — 

' In vain our fancy strives to paint 
The moment after death ; 
The glories that surround the saint, 
When he resigns his breath. 



» 



HER DEATH. 175 

Faith strives, but all its efforts fail 

To trace its heav'nward flight ; 
No eye can pierce within the veil 

"Which hides that world of light. 

Thus much (and this is all) we know, — 

They are supremely blest ; 
Have done with sin, and care, and woe, 

And with their Saviour rest. 

On harps of gold His name they praise ; 

His presence always view ; — 
And if we here their footsteps trace, 

There we shall praise Him too." 

She evinced much pleasure throughout the 
recital. 

Her father brought in from the green-house 
a beautiful flower of the " Cactus Speciosis- 
sima," and -holding it before her said, "Here, 
dear, is one of our heavenly Father's beautiful 
gifts." " Oh, it is indeed beautiful !" was her 
reply. " If," said her father, " He bestows 
such things on sinful man, what must be the 
glorious ones which He has prepared for those 
who love him ! c For eye hath not seen, nor 
ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart 
of man to conceive of them/ " She sweetlv 
smiled as the glorious prospect so immedi- 



176 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

ately awaiting her rose in imagination be- 
fore her. 

Her father read to her the closing remarks 
of her grandfather's Morning Exercise for the 
day — June 15th/ ' O Christian, there is a special 
providence over thee/' &c, enlarging upon 
them for her comfort. She seemed greatly to 
enjoy the thoughts suggested. He then asked 
her, " My precious child, do you now realize 
the truths you have professed and taught 
amongst us?" She promptly replied, "Indeed 
I do." 

Still unable to return to our duties amongst 
the young people, and touched by the accounts 
we received of their whispering voice and noise- 
less tread, of their deep interest in assembling 
the household together at the usual hours of 
family worship, when led by one of their num- 
ber in singing and in prayer, we were com- 
mended to God, we sent again a message of 
love from the dying chamber to encourage and 
strengthen their hands. 

" I write to you in pencil, lest I should dis- 
turb the peaceful spirit that still lingers on this 
side Jordan. Oh ! that you could all have 
passed the night with us — such a night of 



HER DEATH. 177 

peac? ! Where the doctors had ordered some 
anodyne to be given to secure quiet, a precious 
promise, a sweet verse whispered in her ear, 
and every nerve was stilled. Her soul seems 
to be entranced with the harmony, and all her 
senses to revel in the glorious anticipations of 
another world. The case is remarkable ; it is 
a most forcible proof of the power of religion, 
not only to support, but to soothe in the great- 
est extremity. 

" Why, why my dear children, should one of 
you dare to trifle with the only comfort, the 
only solace that can be provided for your dy- 
ing hour ? Die you must I Resist the deceiv- 
ing spirit that would lead you to delay the great 
work of preparation. 

* Be wise to-day, 'tis madness to defer/ 

All the riches you could offer, all the world, 
could you bestow it, would not purchase from 
her one hope — she would not relinquish one 
comfort that religion now affords. 

" That she loves us with the tenderest affec- 
tion, is proved by the wandering eye that 
searches after us if we are heard to withdraw ; 
it is proved by the pressure of the dying hand, 



178 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

and the sweet smile of satisfaction with which 
she greets us on awaking : but the eye of 
her faith has seen One infinitely lovely, and to 
Him her soul is in haste to be gone. She told 
me last evening that she did not think she 
should live till morning, her breathing was so 
difficult. When the light of to-day dawned 
upon her still fettered spirit, she looked at me 
and said, ' Why won't he come!' During the 
night one had repeated to her that beautiful 
hymn, ' Ye angels that stand round the throne/ 
— at that verse, 'I want, oh I want to be 
there/ she threw up her arms around the neck 
of the speaker in great delight, expressive of 
the most grateful sympathy. We shall never 
forget that moment! On rising from prayer 
around her bed, she took Papa's hand, raised 
it to her lips, kissed it, then gently laid it down, 
as though every earthly wish was satisfied, and 
nothing now remained but to wait the sum- 
mons in which death should be swallowed up 
of life. 

" Her face beams always with a smile ; I 
assure you, from this experience, that it is 
worth any sacrifice, any devotion, any effort to 
have such peace at last. When reminded of 



HER DEATH. 179 

her song, ' He doeth all things well, 3 and asked, 
' Can you now say He doeth all things well ?' 
' Yes, yes,' she promptly replied. Some short 
time since she said, God had beset her behind 
and before, and even laid His hand upon her. 
Now she adds, ' It is underneath me and around 
me, and so gently, too, bearing me up/ She 
has been a living epistle, therefore her dying 
testimony is added consolation, doubtless, 
given in mercy to lessen the pang which na- 
ture will feel at parting. All that we hear of 
your conduct while absent from you is most 
kind, and does much, I assure you, to strengthen 
our hands and comfort our hearts. May God 
reward you tenfold into your own bosoms, 
when he brings you, as sooner or later he 
surely will, into these deep waters. But oh! I 
do entreat you, my dear children, slight not the 
golden opportunity which now offers for learn- 
ing to know God, as rich in mercy, in goodness, 
and in truth. Some of you profess to have 
sought and to have found Him as revealed to 
us in the face of Jesus Christ — oh! see to it 
that you live a pure life of faith and holiness, 
as ever you wish a peaceful voyage to that 
haven where you would be. 



180 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

" Some have been indifferent to these sacred 
truths. They have made light of privileges, 
they have turned a deaf ear to the voice of the 
Charmer, charm he never so wisely in provi- 
dence and in grace. I fear that such are too 
far dead in nature's hardness to be aroused by 
so gentle and distant a call as this. Well, if 
God has a design of mercy toward you, He 
will call louder, and yet more loud, till in the 
thunderings of his awful judgments, he makes 
you to learn wisdom, and compels you in the 
day of his power to acknowledge that He is 
judge in all the earth; justified when he speaks, 
clear when he judges. 

"But there is yet a more distressing class 
amongst you — those who, I fear, have stifled 
convictions, who have wilfully quenched the 
Spirit, and who are now uneasy at the near 
approach of death in our circle. 

" Where death is — God is ! Yes, He walks 
in your midst now — vain trifler ! — as yet with 
gentle accents He woos you to return. He 
offers to receive you graciously, to love you 
freely. Can you remain indifferent ? does not 
your heart again burn within you ? You have 
resisted many an invitation ; you have turned 



HER DEATH. 181 

a deaf ear to many a plea. Shall not this, the 

direct voice of God's providence, move you ? 

Are you sure of another opportunity ? are you 

sure of more time ? will you dare to presume 

further upon the forbearance of God ? There 

is no course which is wise but one, no way 

which is right but one — immediate, earnest, 

prayerful turning unto God, through faith in 

Jesus Christ. What at this moment would be 

your condition, if, instead of our sister, you 

should hear, ' The master is come, and calleth 

for thee V 

" Your friend." 

Some dear friends, who had been sent for, 
arrived in the evening ; her smiling composure 
in meeting them seemed to chide the natural 
tears which will flow, till chastened into resig- 
nation they could say — 

" Yet still to share 
A few more welcomes from the rich dark eye, 
A few more pressures of the snowy hand, 
And ruby lip, could we enchain thee here, 
To all that change and plenitude of ill 
Which we inherit? Hence ! thou selfish grief! 
Thy root is in the earth, and all thy fruits 
Bitter and baneful. Holy joy should spring 

When pure hearts take their portion. 
16 



182 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

Go, beloved ! 
First, for thou art most worthy. We will strive, 
As best such frail ones may, to follow thee !" 

Our sister was quite too weak to speak ; she 
could only look, and smile upon the privileges 
with which God had favored her, in having 
such a band of Christians, near and dear to 
her in the flesh, accompanying her to the very 
brink of the river, imparting the richest con- 
solations and the firmest hopes; so that the 
precious soul when it stepped into the cold 
waters found they were but a shallow stream. 

At dusk her doctor called to take his fare- 
well look. A moment he stood at her bed-side, 
then seating himself beside the weeping mother, 
he exclaimed, " Well ! Abby has given me the 
sweetest smile!" Yes, surely, it was more 
than earthly ; can its impression be ever for- 
gotten by those who saw it ? Did it not speak 
of peace and joy in believing ? Did it not 
prove her triumph over death and the grave ? 
What was human skill before it ? What were 
earthly pleasures in comparison with it? It 
bore an angel stamp, that God had marked 
her for his own ! 

During the- evening of anxious suspense, 



HER DEATH. 183 

dreading the renewal of the conflict at twelve, 
the following lines were found laid upon the 
table, by a gentle hand present, as a crumb of 
comfort by the way : — 

" Present Lord, be present with us 

Every hour of this day ; 
Darkness falls, if thou should'st leave us, 

That may not be done away ; 
"With thy power, with thy word, 
Give us comfort — Present Lord I 

Present Lord, may every promise 

We have loved receive its seal ; 
Doubt and distrust scatter from us, 

Wounded hearts be swift to heal ; 
Spread thy comfortings abroad, 
Teach while trying — Present Lord." 

With twelve o'clock, the struggle began that 
was now to end her mortal life. She began as 
usual coughing ; but after the third or fourth 
effort, nature was too far exhausted — she sunk 
back upon her pillows and panted life away. 
For nearly two hours she was sinking thus. 
But now she seemed to feel assured that the 
dangers of her pilgrimage were almost over, 
and with the conviction that her hour was 
come, she gave herself up without restraint to 



184 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

" the sea of bliss that surrounded her, and to the 
gales of heaven that were wafting her on, and 
to the sounds of melody that floated in the 
whole air around her;" so that nothing can 
describe the serenity and simple loveliness of 
the closing scene. She once said to her father, 
" It is hard work, dying." This was but for 
a moment — it w r as outweighed by the faith and 
joy of her soul. " Your heavenly Father will 
not suffer his child to take one step too far," he 
replied. A sister added — 

" Though painful at present, 
It will cease before long ; 
And then — Oh how joyful 
The conqueror's song I" 

Thus was she led to draw consolation from the 
true fountain of all comfort — God's purpose 
concerning her, his appointed time for her, and 
his almighty power which would triumph in 
her. 

We continued quoting verses of Scripture, 
and repeating hymns. She joined us in several 
— amongst others, one, a special favorite, copied 
into her manuscript book — 



HER DEATH. 185 

" talk to me of heaven ! I love 
To hear about my home above ! 
For there doth many a lov'd one dwell 
In light and joy ineffable ! 
O tell me how they shine and sing, 
"While every harp rings echoing, 
And every glad and tearless eye 
Beams like the bright sun, gloriously ! 
Tell me of that victorious palm, 
Each hand in glory beareth; 
Tell me of that celestial charm 
Each face in glory wearech. 
Oh happy, happy country, where 
There entereth not a sin, 
And Death, that keeps its portals fan*, 
May never once come in. 
No change can turn their day to night — 
The darkness of that land is light; 
Sorrow and sighing God hath sent 
Far thence to endless banishment ; 
And never more may one dark tear, 
Bedim their burning eye, 
For every one they shed while here 
In fearful agony 

Ghtters a bright and dazzling gem 
In tlaeir immortal diadem. 
Oh happy, happy country ! there 
Flourishes all that we deem fair — 
For tho' no fields nor forests green, 
No bowery gardens there are seen, 
Nor perfumes load the breeze ; 
16* 



186 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

Nor hears the ear material sound — 
Yet joys at God's right hand are found, 
The archetypes of these. 
There is a home, the land of birth 
Of all we highest prize on earth ; 
The storms that rock this world beneath 
Must there forever cease ; 
The only air the blessed breathe 
Is purity and peace. 
Oh happy, happy land ! in thee 
Shines the unveiled Divinity ! 
. Shedding o'er each adoring breast 
A holy calm, a halcyon rest ; 
And those blest souls whom death did sever 
There rest to mingle joys forever ! 
Oh when will heaven unclose to me ! 
Oh when shall I its glories see ! 
And my faint, weary spirit stand 
Within that happy, happy land !" 

Evidently the celestial city was opening 
upon her view ; nothing but the River of Death, 
which now appeared an insignificant rill, sep- 
arated her from it ; that could be crossed in a 
single moment, whenever God should give per- 
mission. Her brother repeated 

" I would not live alway." 

She caught up a line here and there, but whis- 
pered the fourth verse entire — 



HER DEATH. 187 

" Who, who would live alway, away from his God — 
Away from yon heaven, that blissful abode, 
Where the rivers of pleasure flow o'er the bright plains, 
And the noon-tide of glory eternally reigns I" 

After a short pause, laboring for breath, she 
gathered up her strength to repeat — 

On Jordan's stormy banks I stand, 

And cast a wishful eye 
To Canaan's fan* and happy lan.d, 

Where my possessions he. 

O the transporting, rapt'rous scene 

That rises to my sight ! 
Sweet fields, arrayed in living green, 

And rivers of delight. 

No chilling winds, no poisonous breath, 

Can reach that healthful shore ; 
Sickness and sorrow, pain and death, 

Are felt and fear'd no more. 

When shall I reach that happy place, 

And be forever blest ? 
When shall I see my Father's face, 

And in his bosom rest ? 

Fill'd with delight, my raptur'd soul 

Can here no longer stay ; 
Tho' Jordan's waves around me roll, 

Fearless Td launch away.'* 



188 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

As the Sun of Righteousness drew near, 
pouring a flood of glory upon her, as her 
faith was thus changing into sight, her longing 
spirit could not restrain itself, she exclaimed, 
" Oh I want to go ;" then, as if checking herself, 
" I am so impatient ;" adding something, not 
distinctly heard, about "besetting sin." Her 
anxious father said, "It is not unbelief, dear, is 
it ?" " Oh no," she replied, " but impatience." 
"My dearest," said her brother, "you have 
rather set us a beautiful example of patience." 
She quickly and with great earnestness replied, 
" I beseech you do not speak to me so." Her 
father added, " Dearest, it is the grace of God 
in you that we admire — the flesh we know is 
weak, though the spirit may be willing ; cannot 
the all-sufficient merits of an adorable Saviour 
cover all your infirmities ? ' Who is he that 
condemneth? it is Christ that died — yea, rather 
that is risen again \ and you are complete 
in Him." She simply replied, "Yes, yes." 
But there was an expression in that short 
word which spoke volumes. She remarked 
soon after, " Satan has been trying very hard 
for two days past to get me ; but he has not 
been suffered to lay his hand upon me." 



HER DEATH. l89 

Her speech was rapidly failing her. Some- 
thing she said about the sting of death : her 
father tried to hear it, and, gathering its mean- 
ing as well as he could, replied ; but she again 
took up the verse and repeated it more dis- 
tinctly — " O death ! where is thy sting ? oh 
grave ! where is thy victory ?" " Thanks be 
unto God who giveth us the victory through 
our Lord Jesus Christ." This proved her tri- 
umph ; twas the anchor of her soul, both sure 
and steadfast, cast within the veil. She was 
observed to be repeating something ; her brother 
put his ear close to her, and caught her favor- 
ite little hymn : — 

" My Saviour, be thou near me 

Through life's night — 
I cry, and thou wilt hear me ; 

Be my light. 
My dim sight aching, 
Gently thou 'rt making, 
Meet for awaking, 

Where all is bright. 

Through time's swelling ocean 

Be my guide ; 
From tempest's wild commotion 

Hide! oh hide! 



190 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

Life's crystal river 
Storms ruffle never ; 
Anchor me ever 
On that calm tide." 

Finding this was still her enjoyment, we re- 
peated more hymns to her — Cowper's sweet 
lines : — 

"To Jesus the crown of my hope, 
My soul is in haste to be gone ; 
Oh bear me ye cherubim up, 

And waft me away to his throne. 

My Saviour, whom absent I love — 
Whom, not having seen, I adore — 

Whose name is exalted above 
All glory, dominion, and power, 

Dissolve thou these bonds, that detain 
My soul from her portion in thee ; 

Ah ! strike off this adamant chain, 
And make me eternally free. 

When that happy era begins — ■ 

When array'd in thy glories I shine, 

!Nor grieve any more by my sins, 
The bosom on which I recline ; 

then shall the veil be removed, 

And round me thy brightness be pour'd : 

1 shall meet him whom absent I lov'd, 

I shall see whom unseen I ador'd. 



HER DEATH. 191 

And then never more shall the fears, 

The trials, temptations, and woes, 
Which darken this valley of tears, 

Intrude on my blissful repose. 

Or, if yet remember d, above, 

Remembrance no sadness shall raise ; 

They will be but new signs of thy love, 
New themes for my wonder and praise. 

Thus the strokes which from sin and from pain 

Shall set me eternally free, 
Will but strengthen and rivet the chain 

Which binds me, my Saviour, to thee." 

Again, 

" How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, 
Is laid for your faith in his excellent word," <fec. 

Another, 

" My times are in thy hand, 

My God, I wish them there ; 
My life, my friends, my soul I leave 
Entirely to thy care," <fcc. 

Here her father said to her, " My dear, in 
health you have often sung, c He doeth all things 
well,' do you now say from your present ex- 
perience, ' He doeth all things well ?' " " Yes," 



192 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

she replied, and then after a pause for breath, 
" He is so precious/' A few moments after she 
spoke again — " Jay" — " James" — (the names 
of her absent brothers.) Her father asked, 
"My precious, shall we send your love to 
them." "Oh, yes," she replied; " but— tell 
them — I had not — a fear — in death" — pausing 
a moment — "Tell Jay — I long — to hear — his 
voice" — but here her own failed her ; she con- 
tinued to motion with her lips, looking expres- 
sively at us, but nothing was audible. She 
then desired evidently to kiss the brother bend- 
ing attentively over her. We all drew near 
in turn, after she had distinctly called " Mam- 
ma ;" each received the parting token, and left 
with her some precious promise, or breathed 
aloud the desire of the soul for her. Having 
remembered even the friends with us, she was 
asked, " You do not wish to forget Griffin, do 
you?" "No— Griffin?" she distinctly said. 
She came weeping bitterly, to receive the 
parting token from one whom she had nursed 
from infancy, and who had ever been to her 
the kind, thoughtful, and gentle mistress, and 
who now, in her dying moments, longed to ex- 
press her gratitude for the unceasing attentions 



HER DEATH. 193 

of this faithful servant. She tried in vain to 
speak ; her tongue faltered in death ; but with 
a look of entire satisfaction, as now resting 
from all her labors, she gathered up her strength 
to sav, " It is sweet.'' To the eve of sense 
there was " nothing but pain, weakness, dark- 
ness, the relinquishment of life and its choicest 
blessings," in the brightest season, too, of its 
existence ; yet there was " a mysterious, un- 
seen, supernatural presence and power; a 
power of life and joy so deep and unextin- 
guishable, so certain, sensible, ecstatic," that 
this young dying Christian could exclaim, " It 
is sweet!' Surely " this was Christ ! This it 
was to have a Saviour ! This was his omnip- 
otence and mercy !" " Now, dearest," said 
her sister, "you have done with earth: there 
is not one of us that would wish to detain 
you ; we join our prayers with yours that Je- 
sus would come and fetch vou — -Come, Lord 
Jesus, come quickly/ He may seem to you 
to tarry long; but when you reach eternity, 
you will see that there was not one pain too 
much, nor one hour too long. Think, dearest, 
what a privilege is yours, to be the first of our 
hand in heaven ! the first to sing the song of 

17 



194 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

Moses and the Lamb ! to receive the crown 
of glory ! to have taught us all how to die ! 

" Vital spark of heavenly flame I 
Quit, oh quit this mortal frame ! 
Trembling, hoping, lingering, flying — 
Oh the pain, the bliss of dying ! 
Cease, fond nature ! cease thy strife, 
And let me languish into life ! 

Hark — -they whisper — angels say, 
4 Sister spirit, come away !• 
"What is this absorbs me quite, 
Steals my senses, shuts my sight, 
Drowns my spirit, draws my breath ? 
Tell me, my soul — can this be death ? 

The world recedes ! — it disappears ! — 

Heaven opens on my eyes ! — my ears 

"With sounds seraphic ring : 

Lend, lend your wings ! I mount ! I fly ! 

O grave ! where is thy victory ? 

death ! where is thy sting ?" 

Here her look was indescribable — -her beauti- 
ful and expressive eyes were fixed on the sister 
that spoke with an intensity that belonged not 
to earth. 

The blinds having been raised, her father 
said, bending over her — 



i 



HER DEATH. 195 

" Let me go, for the day breaketh." 
Still she lingered: but the shadows of the 
valley were fleeing apace ; the bright and 
morning star was rising ; her eyes were very 
soon to behold the unclouded sun, that shall 
never set ; her dreary nights were already 
passed forever. From this time she took no no- 
tice of earth or earthly things ; but, lying per- 
fectly still with her eyes open, she seemed in a 
"bewilderment and mist of glory," following and 
holding communion with " gentle spirits, who 
formed as it were a perspective of glory, through 
which the soul was passing to uncreated light/' 
" Thus she came up to the gate ; then the King 
commanded to open the gate, that the righteous, 
that keepeth the truth, may enter in. Now, 
just as the gates were opened, I looked in, and 
behold the city shone like the sun ; the streets 
were paved with gold ; and in them walked 
many with crowns on their heads, palms in 
their hands, and golden harps, to sing praises 
withal. There were also of them that had 
wings ; and they answered one another without 
intermission, saying, ' Holy, holy, holy, is the 
Lord.' And after that they shut up the gates 



196 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

— which, when I had seen, I wished myself 
amongst them." 

Many beautiful things were continued to be 
said to her by her father and brothers ; but she 
gave no sign that she heeded them — her tongue 
was already paralyzed in death — her eyes were 
gently closing. Her father had raised her, on 
her pillow, on his arm, to ease her breathing, 
and was gazing with fond affection in her face. 
He saw no change, but her brother said, " Surely 
she is gone." They felt her pulse — it had indeed 
ceased to beat. " Yes, this is death," exclaimed 
our father, as he gently laid her down — " she 
sleeps in Jesus. ' The Lord gave, and the 
Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name of 
the Lord.' I have a child in heaven." 'Twas 
even so — 

" Without a sigh, 
A change of feature, or a shaded smile, 
She gave her hand to the stern messenger, 
And, as a glad child seeks its father's house, 
"Went home ! * * * * 

It was not meet 
That she should longer tarry from that bliss 
"Which God reserveth for the pure in heart." 

A flood of tears well nigh overpowered us in 
this our first grief, but a Grace that was om- 



HER DEATH. 197 

nipotent sustained us, and landed us safe in 
peace and joy — enabling us at once to realize 
that our precious sister was not dead, but 
sleeping — " Sleeping in Jesus." The thought 
that she was beyond the reach of sickness, 
pain and sorrow, death and sighing — that her 
sun should no more %o down, nor her moon 
withdraw itself — that she should no more say, 
" I am sick," was an inexpressible relief, and 
quickly awakened in our hearts the most pro- 
found gratitude to God, who, through Christ 
our Lord, had thus ransomed us from the 
power of the grave. 

" 'Twere sweet indeed 
A little longer, to have drawn her smile 
Into the heart of love, and seen her do 
With all her graceful singleness of soul, 
A Saviour's bidding. But, be still — be still — 
Ye who did gird her up to Heaven, and walked 
Even to its gates in her blest company — 
If she hath ^entered first, what then? Be still, 
And let the few brief sands of time roll on ; 
And keep your armor bright, and waiting stand 
For her warm welcome to the realms of bliss." 

After repeatedly kissing the precious face on 
which was set a radiant smile, more lovely in 
death than in life, we all withdrew, feeling that 

17* 



198 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

if this was death, then death was sweet, utterly 
devoid of a sting, calm as the childlike slum- 
ber on its mother's breast. Oh ! how earnestly 
did we pray to follow in her steps, to be faith- 
ful as she had been, to live in and upon Christ, 
as she had done, separated from earth in life and 
in death. How sincerely did we determine to 
" knock and weep, to watch and pray," resolving 
in God's strength, that in all our darkness — and 
darkness we knew we must encounter — we 
would never, never, let the light of this sweet 
vision be forgotten. 

Often, indeed, were our feet found retracing 
their steps to the room, in which the precious 
form lay. There were no terrors there. 'Twas 
hard to imagine the lustrous eyes would not 
again open upon those she loved ; but 

"Hers was that quiet sleep 
"Which hath no wakening here. Fled from her brow 
"Was every trace of pain ; and in its stead 
Methought the angel who so long had been 
Her comforter, had left a farewell gift — 
That smile which in the court of Heaven doth beam." 

Oh ! for what on earth would we have ex- 
changed the hope which enabled us to realize 
the soul set free, bounding from rapture to rap- 



HER DEATH. 199 

ture, casting its soon obtained but dearly bought 
crown at her Saviour's feet. 

As we gathered around that evening for 
family worship, truly did her chamber seem the 
gate of heaven to our souls. We knelt in 
prayer, while our father poured forth, from 
a bleeding heart, our grateful praise to God 
for all his gentle dealings towards us, implor- 
ing still that gracious presence which had so 
sensibly supported us hitherto Then on the 
wings of Christian faith, he led us from the 
sleeping dust into the palace of Him who is 
higher than the highest, dearer than the dear- 
est, to see our now sainted sister among the 
angelic band waiting her commission to fly 
upon some embassy of love, herself now to 
minister unto those who shall be heirs of salva- 
tion. 

The next morning was a Sabbath — a Sab- 
bath indeed to our souls, which by reason of 
our trial were drawn off entirely from the con- 
templation of earthly things, to revel in the 
view unbounded of a spiritual existence. We 
had been brought very near to God ; and God 
was graciously pleased to come very near to us. 
Together her spirit and ours rested in the Fa- 



200 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

ther's love ; we were both adoring a Saviour's 
unchanging faithfulness ; while by the same 
Spirit's comfortings, we were blending our 
praises and our prayers before the same Throne 
of Grace, — she in the high and glorious pres- 
ence of Him whom seeing she adored — we at 
the footstool of His grace, whom not having 
seen, we yet love. A veil of flesh separated 
us, yet could the ear of faith hear her say, 
"He is faithful who hath promised, 'Trust 
Him where you cannot trace Him/ Be as- 
sured ' He doeth all things well.' " Such was 
the sweet and comforting lesson which, as 
prisoners of his Providence, God taught us in 
the silent chamber of the dead. 

Upon the table in her room were found these 
lines, the effusion of a brother's love. 

" Unconsciously, by feeling led, 
I seek the chamber of the dead ; 
As though my very feet did share 
The love and grief that press'd me there. 

Ah, sacred spot ! 'twas here we knelt 
And watched while she, the suff'rer, slept - 
Her pillows smoothed, her temples fanned, 
And gently pressed the feverish hand. 



HER DEATH. 201 



Ah sacred spot ! 'twas here we stood, 
Hard by the brink of Jordan's flood, 
Unwilling that its swelling wave 
Should bear our sister to the grave. 

Ah sacred spot ! 'twas here so late 
"We knelt and wept at Heaven's gate ; 
While hovering angels bore away 
Our sister from her house of clay. 

Ah sacred spot ! 'tis here we find 
The legacy she left behind ; 
A lesson, meant for you and I — 
To learn to live — to learn to die. 

Ah sacred spot ! while here I bend 
And weep my sister and my friend, 
Behold my heart and witness now, 
The fervor of my solemn vow. 

To Him who bore our sister up, 
Who drank for her the bitter cup — ■ 
To Him, my all— myself I give, 
In Hun to die, in Him to live. 



CHAPTER VII. 

Jfyzx JFutieral. 



44 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear 
with him in glory." — Col. iii. 4. 

"They cannot die— 'whose spirits here 
Were one with Christ, their living Head :' 

They cannot die : 
Though the time-wasted sepulchre, 
In which their vestiges are laid, 
Crumbled in dust may lie. 

They are not dead— whose ashes fill 
That melancholy house of clay : 

They are not dead ! 
They live in brighter glory still, 
Than ever cheer'd their earthly way, 

Full beaming round their head." 

Bowring. 



But the morrow came — that sad, sad day 
of parting, when even the body, that was 
lovely and beloved for the spirit's sake it had 
enshrined, must be committed to its parent 
earth, there to abide 

" The fix'd, the great mysterious law, 
That dust should dust refine." 

There could not have dawned a lovelier day. 



HER FUNERAL. 203 

All nature smiled, as well it might ; for its God, 
our God, through Jesus Christ, had triumphed 
over death and hell — yea, even over the grave 
itself. He had gathered from earth's fair garden 
a cherished flower, the plant of his right hand 
planting, to place it in the bosom of his love, 
far away from every wilderness, blight, and 
storm, and scorching ray. 

A dear friend, one of many who had arrived 
to pay their last respect to our sister, stealing 
silently to her narrow bed, exclaimed, on seeing 
her, ' k You need not tell me how she died ; I 
see it here." 

" Calm on the bosom of thy God, 
Fair spirit ! rest thee now ! 
E'en while with ours thy footstep trod, 
His seal was on thy brow. 

Dust ! to its narrow house beneath t 

Soul ! to its place on high ! 
They that have seen thy look in death, 

No more may fear to die !" 

The precious remains were brought from 
her room into the school-room, to the midst of 
her young companions, who, seated around 
their friend and teacher, the lovely daughter 



204 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

and the much loved sister, listened to the 
faithful exhortation of our friend, Dr Cutler. 
He made some appropriate remarks from her 
dying testimony, " O death where is thy sting ? 
O grave where is thy victory ? Thanks be 
unto God who giveth us the victory, through 
our Lord Jesus Christ." He looked around 
on nature, decked in its richest attire, spread- 
ing before him one of its loveliest views ; the 
heavens were blue and bright above him ; the 
earth was carpeted gorgeously beneath him; 
birds and flowers combined their sweetness to 
render all enchanting around him : he looked — 
but he saw no sting there, He looked upon 
the circle gathered round, united in one faith, 
one hope, supported by the richest consolations, 
honored of God in the tithe He had taken, fa- 
vored of him in the loving sympathy poured 
out around them; he looked — but he saw no 
sting there. He looked upon the placid face 
that lay before him in smiling loveliness ; he 
looked — but he saw no sting there. No, but 
his eye turned to the cross on Calvary; it 
rested upon one who hung there — the Just 
for the unjust, that he might be the Lord 
our Righteousness : it took knowledge of the 



HER FUNERAL. 205 

mockings, the bufferings, the vinegar, the gall, 
the dark desertion of his Father, when in that 
mysterious agony of suffering, He cried out, 
" My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken 
me." There, there he saw the sting of death, 
forever borne away from those who should 
thereafter believe and embrace him as the 
Lord their Righteousness. 

At the church, numbers from all parts had 
gathered, old and young, rich and poor, 
anxiously waiting to pay their last respect to 
one, w r hom but to know 'twas sure to love : 
" The rich admired, 'twas the poor who loved." 
Solemnly the bell tolled, as the interesting 
and mournful procession of the bereaved 
family and youthful companions, robed in 
white, wearing the mourner's badge, followed 
by a large number of weeping friends, wound 
their way on foot down the avenue from the 
house, reached the church-green, and sought 
entrance at the crowded door. " Blessed are 
the dead who die in the Lord!" was ejaculated 
from many a heaving breast. 

" To lie down 
In the dark vault she cometh, — dust to dust, 
Ashes to ashes, till the glorious morn 
18 



206 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

Of resurrection. Wondering do you ask 
Where is her blessed?iess ? Go home, ye gay, 
Go to your secret chambers, and kneel down, 
And ask of God. Urge your request like him 
Who on the slight raft, 'mid the ocean's foam 
Toileth for life. And when ye win a hope 
That the world gives not, and a faith divine, 
Ye will no longer marvel how the friend 
So beautiful, so loved, so lured by all 
The pageantry of earth, could meekly find 
A blessedness in death." 

The service was full and deeply solemn ; the 
stifled grief of many was but ill suppressed; 
their sobs betokened their sympathy with the 
living and the dead. A lovely white moss rose 
just bursting from the bud, was dropped by a 
thoughtful hand, as a fit emblem, on her coffin's 
lid : with her it descended into the vault be- 
neath ; but not with her will it rise to bloom 
in immortal youth and freshness. No, earth's 
flowers must ever fade and die : in heaven 
alone will there be no more death ; for there 
alone can no sin enter. The music she loved 
on earth, honored her memory in death ; the 
apostle's words were chaunted — "I heard a 
voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, 
from henceforth blessed are the dead who die 



HER FUNERAL. 207 

in the Lord ; even so saith the Spirit, for they 
rest from their labors." 

Having seen the sacred trust entombed, we 
returned grateful to our home, rejoicing in the 
privilege that we had committed the loved one 
to the earth in full and certain hope that she 
shall ere long " Awake and sing," that she 
shall be raised in incorruption, in glory, in 
power, a spiritual body ; that she shall shine 
as the brightness of the firmament, and as the 
stars forever and ever ! 

And now, my dear young friend, you to 
whom these pages are peculiarly addressed, 
permit me to retire with you from this peace- 
ful scene into the chamber of your own heart ; 
for you too must die, and " what will you do 
in the swellings of Jordan V Has not the ex- 
ample you have seen and felt, has not the glo- 
rious work of righteousness, of which you have 
just read, with its blessed effects — quietness 
and assurance forever — moved you to exclaim, 
"Let me die the death of the righteous, and 
let my last end be like hers !" To die as our 
sister died, you must live as she lived. 

Prepared to die — the great business of life ac- 
complished before the hour of sickness comes. 



208 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

Ready to die — all other acts, all other duties, 
all other means, only tending to it. Willing to 
die — the frequent contemplation preventing all 
surprise, and the constant looking beyond to 
the blessedness reserved, strengthening the 
spirit and softening the pangs which through 
nature lie in the way to it. Wishing to die — 
lest temptations without and corruption within, 
should, through the deceitfulness of the heart, 
lead it astray again to dishonor God, to betray 
Christ, and to quench the Holy Spirit. 

Do you ask by what principles can ~such a 
privileged condition be attained? Review 
with me the model presented. You see it 
began with a change of heart — an internal 
principle there, which, like a fountain sup- 
plied life and warmth through all the frame of 
feelings and of duties, changing the desires, the 
tastes, the pleasures. You find it manifested 
itself in a practical principle, infused into the 
habits, governing the understanding, regulating 
the faith, giving actions to the inclinations, 
ever on the watch to exercise itself unto god- 
liness : resting not on what is done, but on what 
there is yet to do ; waiting not for the great 
occasion, but thankfully seizing the small one. 



HER FUNERAL. 209 

You find it to have been fee? by a devotional 
spirit, habitually cultivated, and most carefully 
guarded from whatever might be hurtful to it, 
whether in society or amusements, in feelings 
or in temper ; so that the desire, the frame, the 
willingness for prayer, was ever maintained 
within. A spirit not confined to the closet, but 
diffusing its odor through all the intermediate 
spaces of the day and its duties : a mind trained 
to reflection, in which serious thoughts were 
encouraged, distinctly unfolded and carefully 
examined; exercising itself in believing as it 
prayed, in thinking as it prayed, in feeling as 
it prayed. A spirit which felt itself at home 
wherever it could "continually resort," whether 
in journeyings or tarryings, through life, or in 
death. You find that it exercised itself in love 
— love to God and love to man — to God as su- 
preme, to man as his offspring : anxious to se- 
cure the glory of Christ — therefore diligent in 
promoting the spiritual welfare of those around ; 
not solicitous to prove religion, but careful to 
make it loved; willing to renounce opinions and 
prejudices, but ever tenacious of a principle. 
You find that it breathed after holiness, in 
aiming at a standard, in seeking conformity 

18* 



210 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

to a model, in laboring to fill up an outline of 
duty ; failing, pex^haps, often in the performance, 
yet ever again aspiring with large desire, with 
lofty aim, and with steady perseverance, to be 
" perfect even as our Father in heaven is per- 
fect," — " shining more and more with the per- 
fect day." 

Such were our sister's principles ; and such 
indeed, must yours be, as ever you would hope 
to attain to her exalted end. 

As the friend of your soul, let me remind you, 
that in such truth YOU too have been taught — 
yes, while you dwelt amongst us you had line 
upon line, and precept upon precept. Shall 
such teaching but echo back your eternal con- 
demnation ? By this very example YOU have 
been led — shall it but rise up in the judgment to 
condemn you ? By the same quiet and gentle 
influence YOU have been drawn — shall it prove 
to have been but the savor of death unto death 
to your soul ? 

If great has been your responsibility in hav- 
ing seen and known this young disciple, of how 
much sorer punishment shall you be worthy in 
having dwelt with her, in having walked and 
studied together, in having gone to the house 



HER FUNERAL. 211 

of God in company, and there mingled your 
praises and your prayers ? 

Shall one be taken and the other left ! Our 
sister rests in heaven — shall our young friend 
fall short of the glory of God ? She walks in 
white, for she is worthy — will you be cast into 
outer darkness, where there is weeping and 
wailing and gnashing of teeth? 

It may be that, by the providence of God, 
for months, perhaps for years, you have been 
separated — certain it is that now you will see 
her here no more forever. Review her — as 
these memorials present her, in life, in sick- 
ness, and in death. Recall her — as you knew 
her in the school-room, in the parlor, in the 
church, and in the world; and then — Re- 
member — oh ! that I could indelibly impress 
the truth upon your heart — remember you 
have once again to meet her as she stands 
on the right hand of God, the faithful witness 
to all his gracious dealings towards you, in 
the privileges with which you, with her, have 
been favored — the counsels you, with her, have 
received, and the examples by which you, with 
her, have been led. Will you venture to be 
left speechless in that day? or will you not 



212 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

rather at once resolve to follow in her steps 
as she followed God; and secure, with her, 
like interest in your Saviour's blood ; that so, 
with her, your justified soul may find its wel- 
come in heaven — 

" In one eternal strain to sing 
A dying Saviour's love." 

But there are others who will read this little 
volume, to whom we are strangers — -who may 
never have seen or known the subject of its 
pages! As the friend of your soul, dear 
Reader, I would plead too with you. 

It is not any brilliant deed that we call upon 
you to admire — it is simply the passive virtues 
of a young Christian's death-bed, which you 
have been asked to contemplate. " To suffer 
the whole will of God on the tedious bed of 
languishing is more trying than to perform the 
most shining exploit on the theatre of the 
world." To be strong in faith, and patient in 
hope, in a long and lingering illness, is an 
example of general use and application; it 
presents a model — for to the dying-bed we 
must all come. The case before you must be 
yours. Oh why not make it yours now ? 



HER FLi\.i^cAj_i. a*13 

" Smitten friends 
Are angels sent on errands full of love ; 
For us they languish, and for us they die ; 
And shall they languish, shall they die in vain ? 
Shall we disdain their silent, soft address, 
Their posthumous advice, and pious prayer ?" 

In perusing these pages, has not the same 
Spirit which sustained our sister while she 
suffered, wrought in you to believe — or be- 
lieving, stirred you up to a firmer trust ? If it 
prompted her to desire for you the comforts 
her sure hope afforded, will it not move you 
to seek for yourself that better part which shall 
never be taken away ? 

To you, my friend, our loss in her death 
has been, we trust, your gain ; since the retire- 
ment in which she lived might have prevented 
the circle of her influence from ever directly 
reaching you. By these pages, the bright ex- 
ample of her death is yours, to instruct and to 
guide. Let me warn you of your respon- 
sibility in having now perused them. You* 
have found truth there ; you have heard its 
principles and seen its effects — " The work 
of righteousness is peace ; and the effect of 



214 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

righteousness quietness and assurance for- 
ever!" 

If such then is truth, what is duty ? BE- 
LIEVE ! OBEY ! 

" Reader ! may'st thou obtain like precious faith, — 
To smile in anguish and rejoice in death I" 

The following letters have been received at 
different times since our sister's death. They 
not only confirm the truthfulness of the forego- 
ing memorials, proving that we have not over 
estimated our sister's character, but are capa- 
ble of yielding so much instruction and com- 
fort to those who, like ourselves, are mourners, 
that we cannot forbear making some extracts 
from them. 

On hearing of her increased illness, in antici- 
pation of the fatal result, one of her absent 
brothers wrote : — 

"The mournful intelligence pierced my heart, 
and has haunted me ever since. It is indeed a 
bitter cup, and nature will shrink. To-night, 
however, I shut myself up in my little room, 
and, amidst a flood of tears, poured out my 
soul to God. And now he has strengthened 
me, and filled me with peace. The sweetest 



HER FUNERAL. 215 

affections are flowing out, and I am cheerfully 
resigned to His will. I feel that it is all in love, 
and what I should myself desire could I but see 
as He sees. Oh that it may wean me more 
from the attractions of earth and the applause 
of men ! Oh that it may produce deeper hu- 
mility and devotedness ! Oh that it may en- 
dear those exceeding great and precious prom- 
ises which are now supporting and consoling 
me ! My precious mother ! may our heavenly 
Father, the God of all comfort, make His con- 
solations to abound towards you, and enable 
you to rejoice in your sorrows, yea, and to 
glory in your tribulations also. I am confident 
that He will make his grace sufficient for you, 
and bring you forth from this furnace as gold. 
Think you that He who died to save us, and 
who is preparing for us worthless sinners such 
unspeakable blessedness, think you that He 
would do anything that was not for our good, 
anything that was not necessary ? No ! thou 
adorable Friend ! thou art ' doing all things 
well :' only fill up with more of thyself the gap 
which thou makest in our earthly attachments, 
and we dare not, we cannot repine. I am 
sure it will cheer you to hear that here, in 



216 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

the midst of my suspense and loneliness, I 
can thus find peace and joy, and prove that 
the promises are all yea and amen in Christ 
Jesus. 

" Dear sufferer ! I would have given a world 
once more to kiss thy soft cheek, and show 
thee one more little token of attentive love; 
but, a few more years, and we shall embrace 
each other in that better country, where 
sorrow and sickness never more enter, and 
where God shall remove every cloud and every 
tear/' 

The following touching letter was written 
by the same brother to our sister. But ere it 
reached us, the sweet spirit had flown to its 
everlasting resting-place : — 

"As an overruling Providence detains me 
from personal attendance upon you, I must be 
allowed to send as a proxy one of those famous 
little travellers, which can cross the Atlantic 
for a shilling, and creep, not into the sick cham- 
ber only, but into the very heart of those we 
love. 

#" My precious one ! how gladly would I 
come myself! I have more than once looked 
at my hat, and thought I must put it on and 



HER FUNERAL. 217 

rush over to you. In my dreams. I do, and 
oh how sweet the delusion ! but how transi- 
tory ! Morning shakes my chain, and reminds 
me that I am still an exile from home ! I want 
to be with you, dear, not on your account ; for 
with such ministering spirits as the dear ones 
round you, not an angel could do more ; but 
for my own sake. My heart aches to see my 
darling sister once again, to press her soft 
cheek, to see her sweet smile, and to listen 
once more to her sweet and plaintive voice — 
but, Abby ! it is the Lord's will that it should 
be otherwise ; and much as I should delight to 
see you, I find a still higher pleasure in cheer- 
ful resignation to His appointment. It would 
be strange indeed, if all the chastenings and 
scourgings of these last five years, had not 
taught me ready submission to Him, w T ho, if he 
is to make all things work together for our 
good, must and ought to have the sole direc- 
tion of our movements. 

" I have thought much, lately, of this time 
last year, when we were together in Cambridge, 
(England.) We had pleasant hours together 
then — those Thursday evenings at Trinity 
church, those walks to the Sunday school, 

19 



218 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

those rides to Bourne and Haslingfield ; those 
hours of family worship, and those sweet 
snatches of sacred song. Yes, dear, they were 
pleasant, because they were spent in the ser- 
vice of God, and were all sweetly commemo- 
rative of Heaven, and those ' pleasures' which 
are 'for evermore.'' We shall often recall them 
in eternity, and the recollection will add fresh 
ardor and emphasis to our hymns of praise ! 

" I feared the result of that second voyage 
upon your already sickly frame ; and yet I re- 
joiced that you were gone to your home. 
They soon began to write me of your in 
creasing weakness, and though your own pre 
cious letters tried to conceal the truth, and 1 
myself tried to hope against hope, yet the sun- 
shine of my life was gone, and for the last six 
months, the shadow of a dark cloud has stretch- 
ed from horizon to horizon. How could I 
laugh and make merry, when the sister whom 
I loved like my own soul, looked drooping, and 
fading, and sad ? 

" But though I knew all this, I did not fully 
realize it till about the beginning of May, when 
they wrote me of your sudden and alarming 
return from Virginia. I had said, - Who can 



HER FUNERAL. 219 

tell but the land of the mocking-bird and the 
jessamine, the genial skies, and the balmy- 
breezes of the south, may yet restore the light 
to her eye and the rose to her cheek : J but, no ! 
and I wept as if my heart would break at the 
recital of all my darling's anxieties and suffer- 
ings ; yea. in the pride and naughtiness of my 
heart, I really think I felt angry with Provi- 
dence for your sake! But I had much to learn : 
and after going about till last Thursday with an 
inconsolable and rebellious spirit, I was in the 
evening of that day, enabled to bow my head, 
and say ' Father ! thy will be done ;' and im- 
mediately my soul was filled with heavenly 
peace, and I began to feel the most sweet and 
celestial affections flow out, and my soul rested 
confidently upon God, and rejoiced in Him 
with joy unspeakable and full of glory. From 
that moment my faith has not wavered ; and 
though the tear of affection will now and then 
start, and the sigh come rushing up from the 
bosom, yet they are not the expressions of fret- 
fulness, but such as Jesus himself once shed 
over one whom He loved. 

" Hear this, then, for your comfort : your 
affliction has been inexpressibly sanctified to 



220 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

me. It has softened my heart and prepared it 
for the Divine communications ; it has weaned 
me from the attractions of life ; it has subdued 
my stubborn will ; it has given reality to all 
beyond the grave ; and it has brought me a 
willing captive to the feet of Jesus. And will 
you not rejoice in this, my own dear sister ! 

" To-day came S's letter. I can truly say 
the bitterness of death was passed, and I should 
have recognized the black seal without anguish. 
But God had something better in store for me. 
That precious letter, though it holds out but 
little hope of your recovery, dearest, brings me 
the sweetest tidings of your inward peace, and 
unfaltering reliance on the promises of God! 
It tells me, too, that the fire, which has long 
been burning in your heart, has at length kin- 
dled into a flame, and burst forth from your lips, 
to the great joy and satisfaction of the beloved 
ones around you. This is a crowning mercy, 
and I do adore that gracious Father, who has 
thus answered our prayers ! Oh what an un- 
speakable mercy it is that your hope is bright 
and clear, and your faith so undaunted ! You 
are only going a little before us ; we are all on 
the road, and following fast after you ; a few 



HER FUNERAL. 221 

more years of labor and conflict, and we shall 
embrace forever ! You are indeed to be en- 
vied ! for though there may be something awful 
in dying, it is only in the anticipation — Jesus 
will make it pleasant and easy. I went far down 
into the dark valley myself a few months ago ; 
and, oh ! it seemed all light and happy when I 
felt that I was leaning on the arm of my Beloved 
— and so will you find it, dear. Keep your eye 
fixed on a bleeding Saviour ! and you will prove 
the promise, ' When thou passest through the 
waters I will be with thee, and through the 
rivers they shall not overflow thee/ And 
once across, O what glories! what raptures 
will await you. 

"How often I lean against a stile in the 
meadows, and look up into the blue sky, and 
wish myself away ! How often, when finishing 
a letter home, or brushing a tear from my eye, 
I have sighed for that land where these partings 
are o'er, and death and the grave divide hearts 
no more. Well, dear, if yours be the honor of 
first reaching it, you are not unmeet for it: 
yours has been a life of faith, and purity, and 
love. Though short, you have done much in 
it for your Saviour's glory. You will soon see 

19* 



222 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

Him whom, not having seen, you yet love — 
6 And tell him, when you see his face, / long 
to see Him too.' 

" I send you the song I shall learn to sing 
when my Abby, perhaps, is no more — 

" I cannot tell what form is hers, what looks she weareth now, 
Nor guess how bright a glory crowns her shining seraph 

brow ; 
The thoughts which fill her sinless soul, the bliss which she 

doth feel, 
Are numbered with the secret things, which God will not 

reveal. 
But I knoiv, for God doth tell me this, that now she is at 

rest, 
"Where other blessed maidens are on their Saviour's loving 

breast ; 
I know her spirit feels no more the weary load of flesh, 
But her sleep is blest with endless dreams, of joy forever 

fresh! 
I know the angels fold her close beneath their glittering 

wings, 
And soothe her with a song that breathes of heaven's 

eternal things ; 
And I know that we shall meet again, that sister dear, 

and I, 
When God for aye shall wipe away all tears from every 

eye. 
When I think of what my darling is, and what I still may 

be; 



HER FUNERAL. 223 

When I muse on that world's perfect bliss, and this world's 

misery ; 
"When I groan beneath this load of sin, and feel this grief 

and pain, 
! I'd rather go to be with her, than have her back again /" 

" What a comfort it is to think that we have 
always lived on such tenderly affectionate 
terms. I do not remember ever to have spoken 
a cross word to you; and I can remember 
when we used to play together so lovingly, and 
when your merry voice and rosy cheeks were 
my joy and my pride. 

"And now, my dearest sister, farewell — a 
short farewell We shall soon meet again in a 
happier clime than either America or England ! 
Let me have your prayers while you remain, 
and some short message of love, just to show 
me that I am not forgotten. Unto God's 
gracious mercy and protection I commit you. 
' The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord 
make his face to shine upon you, and be 
gracious unto you. The Lord lift up his coun- 
tenance upon you, and give you peace both 
now and evermore.' " 

It is somewhat singular that this letter was 
penned on the very day our sister was thought 



224 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

to be dying — when all, but the two absent ones 
in England were gathered around to cheer and 
strengthen her as she stepped into Jordan's 
cold flood. We could but exclaim as we read 
it, and recalled her dying words — 

" Has a strange mysterious feeling, 

Something shapeless, undefined, 
O'er thy lonely musings stealing, 

Ne'er impress'd thy pensive mind ; 
As if she, whose strong resemblance 

Fancy in that moment drew, 
By coincident remembrance, 

Knew your thoughts — and thought of you ?" 

The mournful intelligence was received by 
her brothers in a truly christian manner, bend- 
ing before the storm. The one wrote im- 
mediately to the other : — 

"It has pleased God to send over us the 
waves and billows which we have been so 
long dreading ! Still tears will gush forth at 
every remembrance of our loss. My heart 
aches again ; and the light of my life seems 
gone. And yet, in the midst of my anguish, I 
can look up to our heavenly Father, and praise 
him for all his goodness, and kiss his chastening 
hand. 



HER FUNERAL. 225 

" I pray for you, my brother, that you may 
be abundantly supported and comforted. Above 
all, that this unspeakable bereavement may 
be abundantly sanctified to us both. I so 
dread lest it should not ; but I can truly say, 
6 Lord, 4ere i" am, do with me as seemeth thee 
good.' 

" Having no friend here who could sympa- 
thize, I have gone to Him who is the ever present 
Friend, and He supports me in a sweet, and 
calm, and grateful frame of mind. 

" I never found Scripture so sweet as those 
fourteenth and fifteenth chapters of the gospel 
of John. Read them, and tell me if you do 
not find every word of them true — 'Verily, 
there is a balm in Gilead, and a kind physician 
there.' " 

" Sweet sister, — is it so ? And shall I see 
Thy face on earth no more ? * * * 

* * They say my name 

Hung on thy lips 'mid the chill, parting strife. 
Ah! those were hallowed memories that could stir 
Thy bosom thus in death. * * 

* * Would it had been my lot 
But with one weeping prayer to gird thy heart 
For its last conflict. Would that I had seen 

That peaceful smile which Death did leave thy clay, 



226 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

After his conquest o'er it. * * 

* * Sister ! toils and ills 

Henceforth are past ; for knowledge without pain, 
A free, translucent, everlasting tide, 
Doth fill thy spirit : thou no more hast need 
Of man's protecting arm ; for thou may'st lean 
On His unchanging throne, who was thy trust • 
Even from thine early days. 'Tis well ! 'tis well ! 
Saviour of souls ! I thank thee for her bliss." 

The elder brother replies in a letter home : — 
" The sad but interesting letters reached us 
on Monday. We met, and wept together over 
their contents, reflecting and reading again till 
both could say, ' I know, O Lord, that thy judg- 
ments are right, and that thou in faithfulness 
hast afflicted me ;' also adding, ' Let, I pray 
thee, thy merciful kindness be for our comfort, 
according to thy word unto thy servants ;' and 
it was so. Never have either of us, I assure 
you, had a murmuring thought concerning our 
precious lamb, or the way in which she was 
taken from us. Indeed it was solid comfort to 
me to think of every part, even of the end. 
And though her expressions concerning me 
went to my heart, they only made the prom- 
ises of Christ more valuable, and the hopes of 
meeting again more unutterably precious. 



HER FUNERAL. 227 

" Well, now, ' we would not live alway.' 
The opening in the skies through which our 
darling followed her Saviour, will be always 
before our eyes, to cheer us and to guide us. 

" How is she to be envied the felicity and 
rest she now enjoys. We have only to close 
our eyes of sense and open those of faith, and 
then old things pass away, and behold! all 
things become new. Though her precious 
dust consecrates our little church, we know 
that she w T ill rise again and in her flesh see 
God and live. We know also that her spirit 
is with Christ, who says to His people, * I will 
never leave thee/ and from whose love death, 
we are distinctly told, is unable to separate us. 

" My imagination does not trouble me much 
as to her locality or occupation now. We 
can guess little of either. I rather like to read 
the account of the heavenly city, the new Je- 
rusalem, in the apocalypse, in connection with 
her spiritual existence. There we may be sure 
she is entered to go no more out ; God is her 
everlasting light, and the days of her mourning 
are ended. We cannot, therefore, be unhappy 
about her. God took her to himself. She was 
the tenth of our flock, and he may have hon- 



228 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

ored us, as he honored the Jews when he said, 
€ And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of 
the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under 
the rod, it is holy unto the Lord.' One of the 
greatest blessings perhaps brought us by this 
trial, is, that it must endear that Saviour, who 
supported her so sweetly through the valley of 
the shadow of death, and allowed her to fear 
no evil. It is a proof which we needed that 
our almighty Friend means what he says. He 
has illustrated and illuminated his own Word 
for our comfort by and by, when we shall be 
called to follow her. That she is there before 
us, waiting for us, will alone make death much 
less terrible ; but to think that her God is also 
our God — as kind and gracious yesterday, to- 
day, and forever, is enough to make us sing 
with joy and praise. 

" After all, the separation is but a few years 
for any of us : meanwhile, let us dedicate our- 
selves, body, soul, and spirit, to God's service, 
and pray that we may all believe and realize 
that beautiful simile of the word of God, be- 
tween the seed and the body : — ' That which 
thou sowest is not quickened except it die ; so 
also is the resurrection of the dead.' " 



HER FUNERAL. 229 

Her honored grandfather also writes to her 
parents : — 

" Your letter arrived yesterday : you had 
prepared us for its contents ; we were not 
therefore surprised: but we could not help 
weeping ; and the more as having so lately seen 
and caressed the dear creature — then how love- 
ly! and a cherub now! I was also prepared 
to sympathize with you from experience, for I 
have been through the same ; and remember- 
ing my affliction and misery, the wormwood 
and the gall, my soul hath them still in remem- 
brance and is humbled in me. And now w r hat 
shall we say ? Say ! why nothing — ' I was 
dumb, I opened not my mouth, because Thou 
did'st it/ — Nothing I mean in a way of com- 
plaining or murmuring ; but much is to be said 
in a way of adoration, praise, and prayer : we 
may say with Job, ' Do not condemn me ; show 
me wherefore Thou contendest with me :' we 
may say with David, 'I know, O Lord, that 
Thy judgments are right, and that in faithful- 
ness Thou hast afflicted me ; let Thy merciful 
kindness be for my comfort according to Thy 
word unto Thy servant :' we may say with 
Micah, ' I will look unto the Lord, I will wait 

20 



230 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

for the God of my salvation ; my God will hear 
me.' 

" The first words that occurred to my mind, 
after reading your letter, were, ' Is it well with 
the child T It is well — well indeed ; for to depart 
and be with Christ is far better than anything 
the World or the Church can afford her; and 
the very heathen would say, ' They whom the 
gods love die young/ 

" You have all now a fresh attraction in hea- 
ven. What a solace is it that you can view 
the separation as very temporary, and rejoice 
in the assured hope that you will see her face, 
and hear her voice again in a world ' where 
adieus and farewells are a sound unknown.' 

"Think not that in rearing her you have 
labored in vain — you have reared a child for 
God, and furnished an heir of immortality. 
Be not afraid to feel and weep — Jesus wept : 
and none of our afflictions produce the peace- 
able fruits of righteousness unless we are ex- 
ercised thereby ; only guard against being swal- 
lowed up of over-much sorrow; and take care, 
as Henry says, ' that weeping does not hinder 
sowing. You have honored God actively ; you 
are now called to honor him passively: and 



HER FUNERAL. 231 

remember, his grace is sufficient for you in your 
trials as well as in your duties/ " 

A friend from the South adds a pleasing tes- 
timony, and pours the balm of Gilead into our 
bleeding hearts : — 

" It was with deep feeling that we received 
intelligence of the departure of one in whom 
we felt, though our friendship was so short, a 
very unusual interest. Often have we spoken 
of the privilege we enjoyed in forming the ac- 
quaintance of one so lovely, who seemed so 
near to Heaven, so weaned from the world— 
a stranger and a pilgrim, finding no rest till 
the Rest of the people of God. 

"We often think of her seraphic voice, which 
seemed to belong to another world, and to have 
caught the strains of the New Song. As I 
passed over to-day a part of the road to Mount 
Vernon, I was reminded forcibly of her. 

" There has been everything in the manner 
of her departure to soothe and comfort you — 
God has indeed shown His faithfulness and 
loving-kindness, even in the midst of your trial. 
The gradual preparation, the quiet and sweet 
manner in which she left you, the rich assur- 



232 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

ance you have that she is with Jesus, all are 
tokens of your Heavenly Father's good-will and 
love to your family. If it is the first time 
death has invaded your family circle, how 
gently has God laid his afflicting hand upon 
you ; surely, he loves you far more than you 
can conceive of. I am persuaded, that, if a 
wish could recall your sister to life, no such 
wish would be ever uttered by you : you love 
her too well to bring her back into this world 
of sin and trial. She has been sanctified and 
glorified. Often will your hearts ascend to 
that pure and blessed world of which she has 
become an inhabitant. Often will you dwell 
in delightful contemplation of her, as hav- 
ing inherited the promises, as enjoying the 
riches of the unfading Inheritance. For this 
purpose, I doubt not, was this affliction sent 
upon you, to make you more heavenly-mind- 
ed, more earnest in your intense desires and 
efforts to be useful, to sanctify and purify your 
heart." 

We cannot withhold in closing, an instruc- 
tive extract from the sympathizing letter of a 



HER FUNERAL. 233 

venerated Christian lady at the South, who had 
seen our sister : — 

" To see the young and gifted pass quietly or 
even resignedly from scenes they were cal- 
culated to enjoy and to adorn, strengthens 
faith and lessens our too eager hold on the 
things of time. Next to witnessing the grace 
of God exhibited in the patience, fortitude, and 
even thankfulness of His faithful followers 
during the sufferings which often precede and 
accompany their last change, it is most instruc- 
tive to receive so touching an account as you 
have given. I could almost say with Dr. Young 
in his ' Resignation,' ' I give you joy of her 
decease/ What happiness that she rests in 
the bosom of her God secure. The remem- 
brance of her sufferings but enhances her 
present felicity ; and if as guardian angel she is 
permitted to watch over those dear ones still 
subject to sin and sorrow, sweet must be her 
anticipation that they will finally conquer 
through their divine Saviour, and share with 
her the bliss of eternity. Does not such felicity 
seem too vast for human ambition ? If it de- 
pended on human desert, who could ever attain 
to it?" 

20* 



234 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

The following lines by a member of the 
family will conclude our memoir. 

" She walked in white ! — 
In graceful garments richly dight 
With all of maiden seemliness : 
"No ornament shone on her dress 
But such as it beeometh fair 
A woman beautiful to wear — 
A meek and quiet spirit blent 
With measurement of full content, 
Obedience, retiring grace, 
Home-keeping, — forward yet to trace 
The steps of grief, with bounteous store 
Of pity for the sick and poor. 

" She walked in white ! — 
In graceful garments pure and bright — 
In white, because she walked in Truth, 
It seeking in her comely youth — 
Not lightly caught with glittVing glow, 
With pride, and pageantry, and show, 
But looking always then and there 
If in God's Book these written were ; 
Where if of them she might not read, 
Gave after neither heart nor heed ; 
And turning from the semblance bright, 
Held fast the substance of delight. 

" She walked in white ! — 
In garments beautiful to sight,- 



HER FUNERAL. 235 

In white, because she walked in Love : 
No thing might in her anger move. 
She falling not, for others' faults 
Had pity ; halting not, for halts 
An outstretched hand to help them on, 
"Words wherein hope and wisdom shone, 
Comfortable solacings, 
Precepts sweet and promisings, 
Patience and long-sufferings, 
Joy and gentle offerings. 



" She walked in white ! — 
In garments glowing all with light — 
In white, because she walked in Faith : 
Not seeking things that cling to earth ; 
But looking upward saw unfold 
A city beautiful with gold ; 
And dimly through the clouds could trace 
A shining host, a royal race, 
Who as they walked sang music clear, 
Which faintly fell upon her ear 
And touch'd jewelled harps whose strings 
Sent down to her far echoings. 



" She walked in white ! — 
In garments gloriously dight — 
In white, because she walked in God. 
He was around her, and His word 
Was in her heart ; so she stood there 
In raiment wonderfully fair, 



236 THE LIGHTED VALLEY. 

ISTo fuller the whole earth sought through 
Could give so beautiful a hue : 
For Truth is white, and Love is white, 
And Faith is white — but oh ! the light 
That falls from God, is of such whiteness 
Eyes scarcely may behold for brightness 1" 



THE END. 



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